Tailed from police station: Drug queen’s sis shot dead

CEBU, Philippines — An alleged member of the biggest drug distribution ring in Cebu was killed Wednesday evening by two unidentified gunmen in Barangay Labogon, Mandaue City.

Janelyn Encila, 31, was shot just as she alighted from a taxicab she was riding from Mandaue City Police Station 3 in Barangay Basak, where she reported suspicious people allegedly seen frequenting her residence.

Mandaue City Police Office (MCPO) director Col. Julian Entoma said he advised Encila to report directly to him but she instead went to Station 3. According to Entoma, the gunmen may have tailed Encila from the police station.

“Gisundan na diay to siya sa gunmen kay dihang munaog na siya, kalit man nga naa niduol sa taxi – wala patya iyang kauban siya ra, siya ra gyud ang target ato,” Entoma said. (She was already being followed by the gunmen because when she was about to disembark, somebody approached the taxi. She was the only target because her companion was spared)

The taxi driver and the other people in the area saw the gunmen boarded a four-wheeled vehicle after shooting Encila.

The victim suffered several gunshot wounds to the body. Entoma said the police eye personal grudge and illegal drugs as possible motives.

According to Entoma, the victim was part of the Rustico Ygot drug group. Her sister, Jocelyn, was arrested last Sunday in Consolacion for possession of P68 million worth of shabu. Entoma said the victim worked closely with her sister in distributing illegal drugs and in sending the proceeds to Ygot, who is now detained at the New Bilibid Prison in Muntinlupa City.

 The police official believes that Janelyn may have been killed by the members of the drug syndicate to prevent her from squealing to the police the details of their operations.

“Posible nga gipatay na ni siya kay wala na ni siya gamit, niya tan-aw nila kung mipiyaet ni itumba na lang,” Entoma said. (It is possible that she was killed because she is no longer useful to them and that they may have thought that she already squealed information)

Another member of the group, Elymar Ancajas, was also arrested during a buy-bust operation in Barangay Inayawan, Cebu City last Sunday. The police seized P122.4 million worth of shabu from his possession.

A follow-up operation resulted in the arrest of Jocelyn whom the police described as the biggest stockholder of drugs in the province.

Police Regional Office-7 director Brigadier General Debold Sinas said that Jocelyn was the former live-in partner of Ygot. — FPL (FREEMAN)