Village chief shot dead; drugs eyed

MANILA, Philippines — A barangay chairman was gunned down at a Christmas party in Tondo, Manila on Monday night.

Barangay 104 chairman Randy Reyes, 46, was having fun with friends in front of a house along J.P. Rizal street when two unidentified men on a motorcycle shot him twice, according to Police Officer 3 Ryan Jay Balagtas, Manila Police District homicide investigator.

As they escaped, the assailants also shot Rodel Mariano, who was about to park his tricycle, when he blocked their path.

Reyes died while being treated at the Gat Andres Bonifacio Memorial Medical Center.

Mariano is under observation at the Tondo Medical Center.

Balagtas said they are checking reports that Reyes was involved in illegal drugs. Other reports said Reyes was a former drug user and was active in the government’s war on drugs.

Probers recovered two bullet casings from a .45 caliber pistol.

Freed, killed

A man who was just released from detention for drug possession was shot dead in Malabon City on Sunday.

Morris Galit was shot by a still unidentified assailant in Barangay Muzon, said Inspector Dennis Javier, Malabon police chief investigator.

Barangay kagawad Wilfredo Alejo told police he was in his house when he heard three gunshots. He went outside and saw the victim lying beside his motorcycle, bleeding from a gunshot wound in the head.

Galit was released from the Malabon City jail last March after posting bail in an illegal drug possession case, Javier said.

While his wife described the victim as an honest man who has since reformed and was engaged in his gadget sale business, Galit may have had enemies due to a previous robbery extortion case, Javier said.

The case was dismissed by the Malabon regional trial court due to the complainants’ lack of interest, Javier said.

The motive for the murder may not have been due to drugs because the barangay where the victim lived was declared drug-free, he added.

‘Dealer’ nabbed

A suspected drug dealer was caught with shabu in a drug bust in Quezon City yesterday.

Veejay Ocampo, 35, was arrested in Barangay Sta. Monica at around 6 a.m., after allegedly selling shabu to a policeman posing as a buyer, police said.

Three sachets of undetermined quantity of shabu, a weighing scale, a magazine for a .40 caliber pistol and six bullets were seized from the suspect. – With Marc Jayson Cayabyab, Emmanuel Tupas