Mostly due to illegal drugs: Shootings on the rise in Dumaguete

CEBU, Philippines - Two shooting incidents have transpired in Dumaguete City for the first 22 days of this year, raising apprehensions that the number could surpass last year’s figure of 32.

Initial investigations disclosed that both shooting incidents have one cause in common: Illegal drugs.

Dumaguete City Police chief, Supt. James Goforth, however, said it would be too early to divulge the real motives of the killings, but 19 of 32 killings last year involved personalities in the illegal drug trade.

The first victim, Leomar Sabanal Mandiola, 25, resident of Zone 4 in Brgy. Looc, was recently acquitted for illegal possession of prohibited drugs due to insufficiency of evidence. He was released from detention in December 13, last year but was shot and killed last Jan 17, by riding in tandem gunmen at crossing Buñao going to Judyville subdivision.

Recovered from his short pants was an improvised .22-caliber magnum revolver with eight rounds of live ammunition. At the hospital, he told police investigators, he was contacted by a certain Jomar, presently detained at the Bureau of Jail Management and Penology for illegal possession of firearms, to meet someone and pick up something at the designated area.

Questions were raised as to why a detainee was in possession of a cell phone inside his cell and was able to transact business even if behind bars.

The second victim, Elmo Andres Catadman, aka “el-el”, 46, of Amigo Subdivision in Brgy. Piapi, was also shot and killed by riding in tandem men, using a . 45-caliber pistol, in front of his girlfriend at Ma. Cristina Street at 1:25 dawn the other day. Recovered from his pocket were two sachets of shabu and other belongings.

Goforth surmised drug angle may be possible in the shooting incidents. It could be drug deals that went wrong, he said.

Meanwhile, Mayor Manuel Sagarbarria said he will use all available resources including the intelligence fund to gather information about illegal drug transactions in the city. (FREEMAN)