Killed in Duljo-Fatima shooting: Female victim ‘had drug links’

CEBU, Philippines - There was more to the woman who was gunned down by unidentified assailants Friday afternoon in Barangay Duljo-Fatima, Cebu City, than just being one of the victims of the series of shooting incidents.

Analou Llaguno, 30, reportedly had ties to personalities whom authorities believe are involved in the illegal drug trade.

Llaguno, a resident of B. Rodriguez Street, Cebu City, was shot by unidentified assailants along Carlock Street in Barangay Duljo-Fatima while riding a motorcycle around 2:45 p.m. on Friday.

Llaguno was with her boyfriend John Joseph Romare, 21, when she was shot. Romare was driving the motorcycle at the boundary of Barangays Sawang Calero and Duljo-Fatima when the shooting took place. He survived the attack.

According to Police Regional Office-7 Director Senior Superintendent Noli Taliño, the woman is the former live-in partner of alleged drug lord Kerwin Espinosa, the controversial son of Albuera-Leyte Mayor Rolando Espinosa Sr.

"According to our information, Llaguno who was gunned down yesterday afternoon was the ex (live-in partner) of Kerwin Espinosa and became a girlfriend also of Jaguar," said Taliño in telephone interview.

Alleged drug lord Jeffrey "Jaguar" Diaz was killed in a shootout with police authorities in Las Piñas City last June. His funeral procession in Cebu City was a surprise for authorities after hundreds of his neighbors whom he had reportedly helped trooped to the streets to send him to his final resting place.

In a separate interview, however, police investigator Police Officer 3 Edario Manatad said the information on Llaguno's links is still subject for further "verification and validation."

"Naka-receive mi'g report nga ang victim kay live-in partner ni Kerwin sa una unya na-link sad daw ni Jaguar. Pero kini subject for validation pa," Manatad said.

The investigator, however, said they are not looking into drugs as the definite angle into the shooting. They are also looking at other angles as Llaguno also maintained a moneylending business, buy-and-sell jewelry, and apartments for rent.

Llaguno was also a niece of suspected drug lord Cresistomo "Tata Negro" Llaguno who was killed in 2010.

Tata Negro ran as an independent candidate for councilor of the North District of Cebu City in 2010. However, he was shot dead while campaigning in Barangay Lorega-San Miguel. — with Mylen P. Manto/BRP (FREEMAN)