Man slain in Sambag 2 was convicted for drugs

CEBU, Philippines – The man who was found dead with multiple gunshot wounds the other day in sitio Palsy, barangay Sambag 2, Cebu City was already identified as an ex-convict who was imprisoned for drugs.

Police are positive the man was Edgardo Monteban, 33, of barangay Poblacion, Tuburan town.

He was identified last night by his uncle Federico Monteban who went to the San Fernando Funeral Homes where the body was taken.

Police said a background check on the fatality revealed that he was an ex-convict.

Chief Insp. Mario Monilar, chief of Homicide Section of the Cebu City Police Office, said that the victim had just been released from prison last February for illegal drugs and was recently acquitted of illegal possession of firearms.

The police are also checking if he was involved in illegal activities after being released from jail.

Monilar also said that they are certain it was not a vigilante killing as it may have also been carried out by people he had crossed before.

“This is an isolated case. The incident was purely murder kay duna’y atraso ang biktima,” Monilar said.

CCPO director Sr. Supt. Patrocinio Comendador said that the killing may involve drugs.

The police believe that the victim had to transact narcotics with some that day which was why he was in the said barangay.

The police said there are still no witnesses to the crime but a barangay official of Sambag 2 assured to contact them if a witness is ready to talk.

Monteban was reportedly shot dead by three men on a motorcycle past 1 p.m. in an alley in sitio Palsy. He was one of several victims of violence all over the Metro the other day.

Responding policemen recovered 12 empty shells of a 9mm cal. pistol at the crime scene.

PO2 Leroy Baguio said that they believe the victim was shot at close range because the empty shells were found close to the victims’ body. — Niña G. Sumacot/BRP (THE FREEMAN)