In Talisay City: One dead, two hurt in drug-related strafing

CEBU, Philippines — One suspected drug personality was killed while two others were injured when they were strafed by unidentified assailants while on board a car travelling along Cebu South Coastal Road in Barangay Cansojong, Talisay City Monday dawn.

The fatality was identified by police as Alfredo Calica, 20, the driver and owner of the vehicle.

Calica sustained two gunshot wounds to his stomach and chest which resulted to his instantaneous death.

Calica’s companions, Carlos Briones, 22, a resident of Barangay Bulacao, Cebu City, and Joshua Leonor, 30,  a resident of Barangay Tinago, Cebu City sustained minor  gunshot wounds; Briones to the right leg and Leonor to the left arm.

Senior Police Officer 3 Cecilio Miñoza of Talisay City Police Station said that unidentified assailants riding a white sedan had been tailing the victims’ car as it was travelling from Cebu City.

Allegedly, upon reaching Barangay Cansojong, the white sedan came alongside the victim’s car on the driver’s side and the assailants opened fire.

The victim’s car swerved to the side of the road and crashed as the sedan immediately sped off.

Police recovered a KG-9 firearm loaded with five live ammunition from Calica’s car which Briones and Leonor claimed to be owned by Calica.

Leonor and Briones were also arrested after police found two medium packs of suspected shabu weighing 20 grams each with a total estimated value of P236,000.

Miñoza said that they are now eyeing illegal drugs as motive for the shooting.

“Tungod ni sa involvement nila sa illegal drugs either onsehan ni sa drugas or kompetensiya ni sila sa pagpamaligya,” said Miñoza.

Leonor and Briones are now detained at the Talisay City police detention cell and will be charged for violating Section 11 of the Comprehensive Dangerous Drugs Act of 2002.

In addition, operatives of Philippine Drug enforcement Agency-7 arrested two personalities in a buy-bust operation in Barangay Lower Pakigne, Minglanilla on Monday dawn.

Evangelyn Medalla, 49, single, and Sharon Alicaya, 33, married, were arrested after police confiscated from their possession five packs of shabu weighing 23.5 grams and valued at P117,500.

The two have been under surveillance for a week before the buy-bust operation was conducted.

According to PDEA-7 spokesperson Leia Albiar, the suspects were able to dispose of some 100-200 grams of illegal drugs per week around the areas of Minglanilla, Naga City, and Cebu City.

Both are now in police custody.

PDEA New Recruits

Meanwhile, the Commission on Human Rights (CHR) is encouraging PDEA to recruit fresh graduates to become agents, saying it is a good move to put new people with no stains on their record.

“Siguro, they will be recruiting kadtong wala pa’y mantsa sa patay no or any participation, dili kanang police unya i-collateral lang sa PDEA, kanang bag-o gyud nga graduate kay aron wala pa siya mantsa ba bahin aning gubat sa droga,” said CHR investigator Leo Villarino.

Villarino said he is grateful that the anti-illegal drug operation is back under PDEA.

“In accordance to the law, PDEA is supposed to be handling the drug campaign and not the police. This is just a proper thing to follow what has been ordained under the law,” he said.

Villarino said that they foresee a better relation between CHR and PDEA.

 “We are hoping that they will be producing (PDEA) a better result unlike sa (PNP) that they are characterized by so much killing,” Villarino said.

He also hopes for PDEA to be more transparent with their operations and be more cooperative with CHR investigations.

Villarino said that the transfer of authority over the drug war to PDEA does not mean that they will put an end to their investigation into alleged extrajudicial killings in PNP’s anti-drug operations. (FREEMAN)