Suspected drug personalities shot dead

CEBU, Philippines - A suspected drug personality was shot by the San Francisco police after he drew his firearm and attempted to shoot them as police were conducting Oplan Tokhang at Sitio Kanlayog, Barangay Santa Cruz, San Francisco, Camotes on Saturday afternoon.

The fatality was identified as Marchel Andrade, 35, a resident of the said place and whose name appears on the drug watch list of Barangay Santa Cruz.

Police Officer 3 Ronald Juban said that while they were heading to houses to conduct Oplan Tokhang together with his team and their chief of police, Senior Inspector Janus Giangan, they saw a group of men and decided to approach the group.

When they were about to state their intention however, Andrade allegedly drew his firearm on them which prompted them to draw their own weapons and shoot Andrade.

Andrade was rushed to Ricardo Maningo Memorial Hospital but was declared dead on arrival.

According to Juban, police were able to recover three small sachets believed to be shabu and a .38 cal. revolver loaded with six live ammunition from Andrade's possessions.

Andrade has pending cases filed before the Regional Trial Court in Danao City for violating the Comelec gunban and liquor ban enforced during the election period.

Juban said Andrade may have believed that he was the target of the police which allegedly prompted him to draw his firearm.

Meanwhile in Consolacion, a 41-year-old man has died after he was shot several times by an unidentified assailant while standing at the roadside together with his friends at Sitio Lumbang, Barangay Pulpogan, on Saturday afternoon.

The victim was identified as Rolando Blanco, a resident of Sitio Katugasan, Barangay Casili, Consolacion and has been reported to be engaged in illegal drug trade in their place.

According to investigation report, Blanco together with his friends were by the roadside when at about 12:30 p.m., an unidentified assailant wearing a bonnet onboard a Honda XRM motorcycle without plate number shot the victim several times hitting different parts of his body.

After the incident, the assailant fled from the scene towards an undetermined direction.

Blanco was rushed to Eversley Child Sanitarium Hospital by barangay tanods but he was declared dead on arrival by the attending physician.

In-depth investigation is being conducted by Consolacion police to determine the real motive of the killing as well as the suspect's identity for the possible filing of the complaint of murder before the Prosecutor's Office. (FREEMAN)