Drugbuster gunned down

A civilian agent of an anti-illegal drugs task force based in Mindanao was gunned down after disembarking from a ship which took him to Manila early morning yesterday in North Harbor.

The fatality was identified through an identification card recovered from his wallet as Armando Magues, between 30 and 35 years old, at least 5’6" tall, of medium built and with military cut hair.

An ID with his photo showed the victim was a civilian agent of an anti-illegal drugs special operation task force based in the Autonomous Region in Muslim Mindanao (ARMM).

Investigations showed the victim, together with a female companion, arrived at Pier 12 in North Harbor, Manila on board a Supicio Lines inter-island vessel.

Upon disembarking, the victim reportedly went to the Waray-Waray Restaurant and bought P30 worth of e-load.

A witness told police that the victim was trying to contact somebody on a cell phone when a man appeared from behind and shot him in the head.

The victim died on the spot while the suspect casually left the place.

Police also failed to find the victim’s cell phone.

Investigators are now trying to locate the whereabouts of the victim’s female companion to shed light on the motive for the shooting.

In Malabon City, police are hot on the trail of at least five men who gunned down the brother of an anti-crime volunteer leader before noon yesterday.

Antonio Sabenicio, brother of Civilian Volunteer Against Crime (CVAC) secretary Oscar Sabenicio, succumbed to multiple gunshot wounds while being rushed for treatment at the Tondo Medical Center (TMC).

The victim was walking near his residence in Paradise Village, Barangay Tonsuya at around 10:15 a.m., when the suspects, armed with caliber .45 pistols, approached Sabenicio and shot him.

As the victim fell to the ground, the suspects took turns firing more shots at him. They escaped on foot toward a dumpsite in Barangay Catmon.

The victim, who sustained multiple gunshot wounds in the head, chest and body, was first taken to the Pagamutang Bayan ng Malabon, but was transferred to the TMC.

Senior Superintendent Josefino Teofisto, the city police chief, immediately ordered a manhunt for the suspects.

Police recovered from the crime scene nine empty shells from a caliber 45.

"We are still conducting a deeper investigation on the possible motive behind the killing," Teofisto said. — With Pete Laude