Ex-Vice Mayor, Son Confirmed Dead in Leyte; Police Intensify Hunt for Killers

The Police Regional Office (PRO-8) in Eastern Visayas confirmed on Tuesday, June 30, that the two men reported missing in Mayorga, Leyte, have been positively identified as former Abuyog, Leyte Vice Mayor James Bohol, 57, and his son, Carlo James “Jimbo” Bohol, 28. Their bodies were recovered in a ravine in Silago, Southern Leyte. The confirmation came after the Regional Forensic Unit-8 (RFU-8) completed the necessary forensic and medico-legal examinations, ending days of uncertainty over the fate of the father and son, who were reportedly abducted by unidentified armed men in Mayorga on Saturday, June 27. PRO-8 extended its condolences to the bereaved family and vowed to pursue those responsible for the killings. “The Philippine National Police remains committed to seeking justice and holding those responsible accountable under the full extent of the law,” the regional police office said. Police said investigators are exhausting all available investigative and operational efforts to solve the case. These include gathering and processing evidence, interviewing witnesses, pursuing possible leads, and coordinating with other law enforcement units to ensure the immediate identification and arrest of the perpetrators. Authorities also appealed to the public to refrain from spreading unverified information that could hamper the ongoing investigation and encouraged anyone with relevant information to report to the nearest police station or through official PNP communication channels. The bodies of the two victims were found around 9:57 a.m. on July 1 in a steep roadside area in Barangay Imelda, Silago, Southern Leyte. Abuyog Mayor Lemuel “Gin” Traya confirmed that the victims were the former vice mayor and his son after receiving official verification from the police. “The local government unit of Abuyog unequivocally condemns this heinous act of violence. Such profound lawlessness has no place in our society, as it directly violates the peace, order, and security that we uphold within our municipality,” Traya said. The mayor also expressed the municipality’s condolences to the Bohol family, describing the incident as a tragic loss not only for the family but for the entire Abuyog community. James Bohol served as vice mayor of Abuyog for a single term ending in 2025 and remained a well-known figure in the municipality even after leaving public office. The father and son were last seen on June 27 in Mayorga, Leyte, where they were reportedly forcibly taken by unidentified men, prompting police to launch a massive search operation across Eastern Visayas. As part of the investigation, authorities recovered on Tuesday in Sariaya, Quezon, the sport utility vehicle allegedly used during the abduction. The vehicle has been subjected to technical examination and forensic processing in hopes of obtaining evidence that could help identify the suspects. Police have yet to establish a motive behind the killings. /mr