“Drug pusher” shot dead, gunmen claim to be NBI agents conducting checkpoint

CEBU, Philippines - An alleged drug pusher was shot dead in Poblacion, Liloan last Tuesday evening by three unidentified armed men who claimed to be agents of the National Bureau of Investigation.

The assailants flagged down the victim, Juanito Fabon Martinez, who was on board a motorcycle driven by his nephew, Niño Martinez, at 8:30 p.m. in Sitio Cogon. The three armed men reportedly introduced themselves as NBI agents and asked for the driver’s license of the victim.

However, when the victim gave his license, the three armed men fired at him several times. The victim reportedly died on the spot.

Martinez, 36, is a resident of Barangay Carreta, Cebu City.  It was not immediately known why he was in Liloan during that time.

But, Liloan police chief Leo Ty said the victim is involved in illegal drugs. Ty said that based on their investigation, the victim may have not remitted the money to his drug supplier.

NBI-7 director Antonio Pagatpat said he will look into the incident considering that the assailants claimed to be agents of the NBI.

He however clarified that there was no NBI operation in Liloan when the incident happened. Pagatpat assured that he will not tolerate if indeed there were NBI agents involved in the crime.

“I will assign agents to verify the matter to ask the family of the victim. I am sure that we have no operation in Liloan,” Pagatpat said.

Meanwhile, some officials and elements of the Cebu Provincial Police Office (CPPO) will get commendation from the Provincial Board after their successful operation against criminal elements in the municipality of Liloan last month.

The board approved on Monday a resolution sponsored by Board Members Carmen Remedios Durano-Meca and Jose Ribomapil Holganza Jr. commending the efforts and achievements of the Provincial Intelligence Branch of the CPPO.

Those who will receive the commendation are CPPO Director Patrocinio Comendador, PIB chief Rodolfo Albotra as overall team leader and deputy chief, Insp. Rogelio Amoroso Jr., SPO1 Reynaldo Solante, SPO1 Francis Alen Villamor, PO3 Rizalito Recongoco, PO3 Roderick Balili, PO2 Jonathan Buscato, PO2 Crisdie Lawian, PO3 Shielo Quimat, and PO2 Leah Edoloverio Juarez.

“The successful operation of the PNP showed courage, determination, and efficiency on the part of the law enforcers in pursuing the campaign against illegal drugs,” Meca said.

Meca is the chairperson of the PB committee on anti-dangerous drugs prevention and the principal author of the creation of the Cebu Provincial Anti-Drug Abuse Commission (CPADAC).

Meca said that the said operation has inspired other police officers and men and to the Provincial Government of Cebu to continue and heighten its campaign against illegal drugs in the province.

During the operation, one drug suspect was shot dead while seven others were  arrested. Police operatives recovered several packs of shabu worth P500,000, assorted firearms, weighing scale, drug paraphernalia, assorted ammunitions, magazines, a bullet vest and a ledger notebook with P1.7 million collectibles at the apartment unit of a certain Bebot Pepito, the subject of the operation.

Pepito was in the watchlist of PIB and is a level two drug pusher while four of the seven who were arrested were Bonifacio Labrador, 30, of Lawaan, Danao City; Bernard Roble, 33, of Sta. Rosa, Danao City; Jaime Merabaol, 30, and Rey Sabas, 22, of Taboc, Mandaue City.

Richard Taco died during the operation after he resisted arrest and tried to lob a grenade at the members of the raiding team.— (FREEMAN)