Slain AWOL policeman had ‘links’ to drugs

BACOLOD CITY, Philippines — Former Police Officer 1 Federico Nicolas, who was killed in an ambush at Barangay 14 in Bacolod City on Saturday, was found to be in the high value target list of drug personalities, according to Senior Superintendent Jack Wanky, Bacolod City Police Office director.

Shabu and paraphernalia were recovered from the body of Nicolas at the hospital, where he was declared dead on arrival, Wanky said.

Nicolas was killed, while PO1 Wilmer Bansag, 46, who is assigned at the Negros Occidental Police Provincial Office, and his 17-year-old son survived the ambush with gunshot injuries. The two are now in stable condition at the Bacolod Adventist Medical Center.

Bansag suffered multiple gunshot wounds, while his son sustained a gunshot wound in the left leg

Recovered from the crime scene were spent shells of bullets from an M16 rifle, a 9mm gun, and a .45-caliber pistol. Vargas disclosed that about five to seven suspect were involved in the ambush. (FREEMAN)