Malabon mayor’s aide shot

Police are hunting down a big-time drug dealer who shot and critically wounded an aide of Malabon City Mayor Canuto "Tito" Oreta last Thursday afternoon in Dagat-Dagatan, Malabon.

Ronnie Gamuhan, 43, personal aide of Oreta and a resident of Barangay Longos, Dagat-Dagatan in Malabon, suffered two gunshot wounds in the back and is now in critical condition at the Tondo Medical Center.

Suspect Danilo Villanueva, alias Danny Toyo, of Navotas, an alleged pusher and member of a car theft gang operating in the northern part of Metro Manila, has gone into hiding in Tondo.

Superintendent Moises Guevarra, Malabon City police chief, formed yesterday a team led by Senior Inspector Roland Mabbun to hunt down and arrest the suspect, who many claim is "untouchable" in their area and allegedly enjoys the protection of some crooked cops and officials of the community.

PO3 Benedicto Zafra said that the victim was walking home at around 5 p.m. when he was waylaid by the suspect at the corner of Labahita and Hito streets in Barangay Longos. The suspect had two companions identified only as Edwin and Caloy.

Witnesses pointed to Villanueva as the gunman. The victim was hit twice in the back.

Police said the suspect could have mistaken the victim for a police informer conducting a covert investigation on his illegal activity in the area.

Zafra said that as Gamuhan passed by Villanueva’s group, the suspect pulled out a handgun and shot the victim.

Villanueva and his group fled after the incident. Concerned residents rushed Gamuhan to the hospital for treatment.

The suspect, police sources said, has had several brushes with the law, but has always evaded arrest.