Drug pusher gunned down in Marikina

An alleged drug addict was gunned down over the weekend in Marikina City but not before he shot and wounded an informant who led police to his safehouse.

The death of Danilo Martin, 32, was recorded as the "first kill" in Metro Manila of the Anti-Drug Special Operations Task Force (AID-SOTF) headed by Deputy Director General Edgar Aglipay since its inception by President Arroyo last month.

Martin of 434 Munding Ave., Daang Bakal, Barangay Sto. Niño sustained four gunshot wounds in the body. He died while being rushed to the Amang Rodriguez Memorial Hospital.

Senior Supt. Felipe Rojas Jr., the city police chief, said he tasked PO2 Ferdinand Brubio, assigned at the station’s AID-SOTF, and a police informant identified as Jerry Roces, to conduct surveillance operations against Martin, who was reported to be behind the proliferation of illegal drugs in the area.

Brubio and Roces were talking to a local resident when Martin, who was believed to be high on drugs and armed with a home-made shotgun arrived at about 8:25 p.m. Sunday, Rojas said.

Without a word, Martin opened fire at Roces hitting him in the right hand.

Brubio immediately pulled out his caliber 9mm automatic pistol and fired at Martin four times.

Responding Scene of the Crime Operatives (SOCO) recovered the shotgun, an empty shell and a live bullet in the crime scene.

Police also recovered a sachet of shabu on Martin’s pocket.

Rojas said they have in their custody four witnesses who claimed Martin was a drug pusher. Two of them also testified that they saw Martin tried to kill Roces for apparently leading Brubio to his whereabouts. – Non Alquitran