Drugs eyed in Manila village chief’s slay

MANILA, Philippines — Police are looking into illegal drugs in connection with the killing of a barangay chairman in Manila on Thursday afternoon. 

Probers confirmed yesterday that an aluminum foil used in sniffing shabu was recovered from Angel Joy Rivero, chairman of Barangay 330, Zone 33.

Rivero was shot dead minutes after he stepped out of an anti-illegal drug seminar.

Investigation showed that Rivero was on his Yamaha motorcycle (ND-34922) and about to turn right at the corner of Burgos and Ma. Orosa streets when two motorcycle-riding men fired at him at around 1:50 p.m.

Rivero died on the spot from two gunshots to the head.

Police Officer 3 Ferdinand Leyva said bullet casings from a .45-caliber pistol were recovered at the scene.

Senior Police Officer 1 Michael Marragun of the Manila Police District (MPD) homicide unit said he requested for a drug test to determine if Rivero was into drugs.

Marragun said the aluminum foil recovered from Rivero was unused.

“It is unfortunate that an anti-drug advocate like him was into drugs,” Marragun said.

A source told The STAR that one of Rivero’s aides admitted that the barangay chief has been using shabu.

But a former official of the MPD Station 3 said Rivero was not on the drug watchlist.

“He is not considered a high-value target,” the former police officer said.

Sangguniang Kabataan chairman Vergel Francisco said Rivero and other barangay officials were attending an anti-drug seminar in a restaurant at the corner of Ma. Orosa street and UN Avenue when he suddenly left. 

“He told me that he would attend a meeting at the city hall. He did not have a bodyguard,” Francisco said.

Police did not discount the possibility that the killing of Rivero and Barangay 314 secretary Julio Turla could be related.

Turla was sitting in front of the barangay hall when an unidentified assailant fired at him on Aug. 23.