Cousin of slain Cebuano ‘drug lord’ killed in police operation

CEBU, Philippines -  The cousin of alleged drug lord Rowen "Yawa" Secretaria was shot dead during a police operation in Barangay Ermita, Cebu City past 8 a.m. yesterday.

Police had tagged Rolan Secretaria, who is in his 40s, as among the suspects in the killing of 14-year-old student John Karl Diada in Barangay Pasil last Saturday.

Shortly after Rolan's death, two other suspects turned themselves in to Ermita Barangay Captain Felicisimo Rupinta at Ermita Barangay Hall, namely, Yawa's brother, Michael Conson Secretaria, 32, and Gerald Llamas Flores, 20.

Police also arrested the fourth suspect, Daryl Abanto, 44, in the same operation but in another area.

A member of the responding team, PO3 Alexander Arias of the Taboan Police Station, told The FREEMAN that they were pursuing the suspects when they spotted Rolan.

When he noticed the cops, Rolan allegedly fired his gun first, prompting the operatives to fire back.

"Lucky for us nga wa gyoy naigo namo (none of us was hurt)," Arias said.

He said Yawa's brother and Flores might have known that the police were chasing them, which prompted them to surrender.

Rolan obtained gunshot wounds to his head and chest. He was brought to the Cebu City Medical Center (CCMC) but was declared dead on arrival.

Police recovered from Rolan's possession a .45 pistol with four live ammunitions, a .38 revolver, and 42 plastic sachets containing suspected shabu, which weigh and value were undetermined as of press time.

Meanwhile, Michael, Flores, and Abanto yielded a submachine gun, .357 caliber pistol, and .38 revolver, respectively.

All surviving suspects are now under the custody of the Taboan police pending the filing of criminal complaints against them.

It was 3 a.m. on Saturday when Diada, a second year high school student, was shot at Sitio Lawis in Barangay Pasil.

Police, however, are still looking into the motive of the killing. They disclosed that Diada had no criminal records.

Arias said the suspects were positively identified by Diada's girlfriend who was with the victim during the incident.

He confirmed that the two Secretarias were related to Yawa who was shot dead during an anti-drug operation in Banacon Island, Getafe, Bohol last May.

Yawa was tagged as one of the 10 most wanted drug personalities in Cebu City. (FREEMAN)