Drug ‘informant’ silenced in Pasil

CEBU, Philippines - A man who previously provided the police information about the illegal drug trade in their place was shot dead late Thursday evening at Sitio Lawis Riverside, Barangay Pasil in Cebu City.

Police said the victim, Rogelio Petalcorin Cabasa, 30, was last seen drinking with friends when the suspect, Ronald Udto, 19, a self-confessed drug "runner," suddenly shot him four times.

The victim was hit in the abdomen and upper right eye which led to his immediate death.

Pasil police were able to corner Udto in a hot pursuit operation but they were not able to recover the .38 handgun used in the shooting.

Police Chief Inspector Keith Alen Andaya, chief of Pasil Police Station, said Cabasa once provided them intelligence information about the drug personalities in the area, reportedly in an effort to eliminate other competitors in the drug business.

Records at the Pasil Police Station showed that Cabasa, alias "GR," was previously arrested for video karera and distribution of illegal drugs in their barangay.

However, he was temporarily set free after posting a bail of P100,000.

Police Senior Superintendent Joel Doria, acting Cebu City Police Office director, said Udto's statement serves as a proof that individuals involved in the illegal drug trade are in the middle of cleansing their own ranks.

"Actually, wala na man tayong vigilante eh. Ito may proof tayo na nahuli ng Station 6 na pumatay sa isang suspect, inamin niya na kaya niya pinatay is because ito daw yung nagsusumbong sa mga pulis," Doria told reporters yesterday.

"We condone yung mga patayan na yan. Kasi, dapat pulis lang ang mag-aresto, kaya lang ang nangyari nga, inii-squeal nila yung kapwa nila mga pusher. Nagagalitna din yung pusher kasi nga na-i-identify na may proof tayo, may witness, makukunan ng statement yan," Doria added.

In a separate interview, however, Udto provided a different reason for killing Cabasa.

He said he decided to shoot Cabasa because of personal grudge, explaining that the victim allegedly threatened to kill his brother, Mario Udto Jr. (FREEMAN)