2 killed in Talisay shootings

CEBU, Philippines — A suspected drug personality was killed in a shootout with the police, while a dead body with gunshot wound was found in Talisay City yesterday.

In the first incident, 30-year-old Romulo Masbate Jr., an alleged high-value target, died after engaging in a shootout with the personnel of the Provincial Intelligence Branch in Sitio Caniba, Barangay Cansojong yesterday morning.

Police Colonel Roderick Mariano, Cebu Police Provincial Office director, said Masbate was shot dead after resisting arrest.

Masbate, a resident of Sitio Laguna, Barangay Basak Pardo in Cebu City, allegedly fired first at the policemen upon realizing that he was transacting with one during the buy-bust operation, said Mariano.

Policemen fired back at Masbate, hitting the latter.

Recovered from Masbate were sachets of shabu weighing 25 grams with an estimated value of P170,000.

Masbate was allegedly the drug supplier of Rosly “Boss Mark” Fajardo, who was also shot dead in a buy-bust operation in Barangay Cansojong Thursday.

Fajardo’s three cohorts were also arrested in the said operation.

Dead Body

Meanwhile, a dead man was found in Sitio Salvador, Barangay Tangke, also in Talisay City, prior to the buy-bust operation.

The victim was identified by cops as Jan-Jan Borromeo, a resident of Barangay Candulawan, Talisay.

The residents told police that they heard a burst of gunfire at around 2:10 a.m. yesterday.

Tangke Barangay Councilor Teofilo Daitol said Borromeo was accused of molesting a woman by touching her breasts.

Authorities seized nine empty shells of ammunition and shabu from Daitol.

Patrolman Eleazar Belciña of Talisay Police Station said investigators are eyeing illegal drugs as the motive behind the killing of Daitol.

Also, the cops are looking into the harassment complaint against Daitol.  KQD (FREEMAN)