The forensic report revealed that Diego Bello was shot while he was already on the ground, refuting the original version put forward by agents involved in the 2020 police operation on Siargao Island. According to Europa Press, this element played a central role in the trial of three Filipino police officers accused of murder and evidence tampering in connection with the death of the young Galician businessman.
According to Europa Press, Diego Bello’s parents are expected to travel from Galicia to the Philippines to testify at a new court hearing to be held in Manila on Friday, January 16. The family’s appearance will be at the Regional Court of the Republic of the Philippines at 8:30 a.m. Philippine time. The family’s lawyer, Guillermo Mosquera, confirmed to the outlet that the flight would depart on Tuesday, January 6, about a week and a half before the hearing.
The judicial investigation into Bello’s death revealed that there was no shootout between the police officers and the young man, as initially stated by the accused Filipino agents. Europa Press noted that these police officers are formally charged with murder and crime scene tampering, which involves allegedly tampering with evidence to make it appear that the death occurred during an alleged armed confrontation.
The case sparked reactions in both the Philippines and Spain and increased surveillance of the police operation on the island of Siargao, where Diego Bello lived and carried out business activities before his death in January 2020. As Europa Press reports, January 6 marks the sixth anniversary of the crime, which has been in the public and media since it began.
In June 2025, the Philippine court hearing the case decided to reject the bail application of the three accused police officers, a move that underscores the seriousness of the allegations and the strength of the evidence presented by the Philippine prosecution. The court’s refusal to grant bail was based, among other things, on the existence of sufficient evidence to charge the defendants with the crimes under investigation, according to documents cited by Europa Press.
The trial included review of forensic reports and analysis of witness statements indicating that Bello’s death occurred without a gunshot, which contradicts the initial version of events defended by police. Official investigations revealed a significant discrepancy between the agents’ statements and the scientific data collected after the operation. Europa Press explained that this contrast was crucial in formulating the allegations of evidence theft.
The course of the case was marked by several procedures, witness appearances and reports aimed at clarifying the circumstances of the death of the businessman from A Coruña. The victim’s relatives continued to insist on the demand for the facts to be fully clarified and the relevant responsibilities to be clarified. As Europa Press detailed, the parents’ appearance before the Philippine court represents a new step forward in the search for justice and represents a relevant moment in the hearing.
The Diego Bello case has fueled debate about the integrity of police actions in anti-drug operations in the Philippines. According to the chronology of events and reports from Europa Press, the death of the young Spaniard occurred during an operation on the island of Siargao in January 2020. The forensic and forensic reports submitted to the court contradict the police version, which was based on an earlier shooting.
The January 16 hearing will allow the Bello family to present their impact statements and their demands regarding the investigation and prosecution of the accused police officers directly in court. Europa Press stressed that the court case was monitored internationally and that its resolutions affect both public perception of police practices in the Philippines and bilateral relations with Spain.
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