Woman in drug watchlist shot dead in Batangas

LEMERY, Philippines (The Filipino Connection) – A 29-year-old woman pusher who was included in this town’s drug watchlist was killed in an ambush in Marimar Ville Subdivision, Barangay Bukal in Batangas on Wednesday evening, police said.

PCI Dwight Fonte, Lemery police chief, identified the victim as Luzviminda Groyon, a resident of Barangay Cahilan 2 in said town and native of Calamba City, Laguna.

Initial police investigation said that the victim was in the said subdivision at about 8:40 p.m. when she was shot by unidentified gunmen with an unknown type of firearm.

The suspects immediately escaped towards unknown direction aboard a gray Toyota Innova without plate number.

Responding cops said they found the victim lying face down and hog-tied with cloth. 

They also recovered from the crime scene a crumpled paper with a caption that states “Pusher Ako” (I’m a pusher), alluding to the victim, who is allegedly involved in the illegal drug trade.

Police said they immediately brought the wounded victim to the Batangas Provincial Hospital but doctors declared her dead on arrival.

Authorities said they were investigating illegal drug trade as motive for the killing as the victim is a known pusher who is included in the Lemery police’s drug watchlist.

Groyon was the third drug watchlist personality murdered in Lemery this month.

Gregorio Lasmarias died in an ambush by unidentified suspects in Barangay Maguihan on June 3 and Jonalyn Mondelo was also killed in the same barangay on June 6.

Barangays Anak-Dagat and Maguihan in Lemery were included among the list of drug trade hotspots in Batangas province by the Philippine Drug Enforcement Agency in 2013.

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Marlon Alexander Luistro is the editor of The Filipino Connection, regional partner of Philstar.com