Drug personality gunned down

DUMAGUETE CITY, Philippines — A drug personality was shot dead by motorcycle-riding men Wednesday morning at a subdivision in Brgy. South Bagacay of this city, a few meters from the house of his father.

Police identified the victim as Ryan Ozoa, 33, married and resident of Sto. Niño road in Batinguel, also in this city, who sustained several gunshot wounds in his body.

Initial investigations show that Ozoa was waylaid by the still unidentified assailants, at about 9 a.m., or a few minutes after he left the residence of his father.

Duty desk investigator of City Police, SPO1 Harvey Cuasito, said the victim sustained a gunshot wound in the lower abdomen and in the arms. Recovered from the crime scene were the motorcycle driven by the victim and three spent shells of bullet of a .45 caliber pistol.

The victim’s father Rolando has confirmed that his son Ryan had just bailed out of prison for an illegal drugs case. He said Ryan was detained for more than five years at the Negros Oriental Detention and Rehabilitation Center or the provincial jail and put up bail only recently.

According to him, he was not aware if Ryan was again involved in the illegal drug trade, although his son was suspected to have caused the arrest of his uncle, a certain Serecio Piñero, who is presently detained at the city detention cell, for another case.’  - THE FREEMAN