One shot dead in Cordova; jail visitor caught with drugs

CEBU, Philippines - A suspected drug personality was shot by one of two unknown assailants riding a motorcycle in Sitio Bag-ong Daan, Barangay Bangbang, Cordova last Saturday evening.

Joyeily Pacaldo, a resident of the town's Barangay Catarman, sustained several gunshot wounds to his body and was declared dead on arrival after he was rushed to Lapu-Lapu City Hospital. Based on their investigation, Senior Police Officer 1 Erwin Gedorio of Cordova Police Station, said the incident happened around 11:45 p.m.

Pacaldo was standing at a store in Sitio Bag-ong Daan with a companion only identified as "Mariano,” looking as if they were waiting for someone when a motorcycle suddenly arrived and one of the assailants reportedly pulled out a gun and shot Pacaldo multiple times.

Gedorio said they believed that Mariano escaped as one of the suspects continued to fire several gunshots. Police discovered that Pacaldo has a standing warrant of arrest for violating Republic Act 9165 or the Comprehensive Dangerous Drugs Act of 2002.

Recovered from the crime scene were seven empty shells from a .45 pistol and two slugs.

Police also found two small sachets of suspected shabu from the victim. The suspect immediately fled the scene after the incident, Gedorio said.

Police said the motive of the shooting may be related to illegal drugs. A follow-up investigation is being conducted for the possible arrest of the suspects.

Another visitor caught

Meanwhile, a female visitor who was once arrested by the Philippine Drug Enforcement Agency- 7 last December has been arrested again in Talisay City Jail for allegedly trying to sneak in packs of suspected shabu last Sunday afternoon.

This is the fourth time a female visitor has been arrested in the jail under the watch of Jail Warden Chief Inspector Josephus Jelliangao.

The suspect, identified as April Mariquit, 36, a resident of Barangay Lawaan 3, Talisay City, was arrested along with her husband, Ritchie Mariquit, in a buy-bust operation last December with police confiscating P4.2 million worth of drugs from the couple.

But April was able to post bail while her husband Ritchie was transferred to Talisay City Jail. April has confirmed that she was at the jail last Sunday along with her three children to visit her husband.

However, during the search procedure, the jail officer noticed something suspicious bulging on April's jeans on the lower part of her legs.

Recovered were four packs large, two packs medium and one small sachet of suspected shabu weighing a total of 54 grams hidden in April’s jeans hidden beneath leggings and wrapped in masking tape.

Jail officers also recovered cash total of P78,000. Jelliangao added that as soon as they will receive a commitment order on Mariquit, they will conduct an investigation into why she brought a large amount of money to visit her husband.

Aside from confirming that she was at the jail to visit her husband, April chose to remain silent and only answered “no comment” to questions posed during the interview.

April is now detained at the city's detention center pending the proper filing of charges. — Iris Mariani B. Algabre and Christell Fatima M. Tudtud (FREEMAN)