Ex-convict shot dead; girl hit by stray bullet

CEBU, Philippines — A 47-year-old man who was previously convicted on drug charges was shot dead by two unidentified assailants inside Barangay Lorega San Miguel Public Market in Cebu City Thursday evening.

Russ Aquino, a resident of the village, succumbed to several gunshot wounds.

Senior Police Officer 3 Gamaliel Badana of Police Station 1 said they are looking into the drug angle in the shooting especially since Aquino was an ex-convict, who did time for illegal drugs.

Aquino has just been released from prison months ago, said Badana. 

"Naa'y possibility nga tungod sa illegal drugs ang motive sa pagpamusil," he said.

Badana said the victim was also included on their drug watch list. 

On the other hand, Jennifer Herbero, 24, was also hit by a stray bullet fired by one of two assailants.

Herbero, who suffered a gunshot wound to her left hip, was rushed to the hospital for treatment.

The case has been forwarded to the Cebu City Police Office's Homicide Department, which will conduct further investigation.

Meanwhile, five suspected drug personalities were arrested in a series of Oplan Galugad and Oplan Sita operations in Sitio Proper, Barangay Ermita, Cebu City Thursday afternoon.

Gandy Pelina, 47, Warren Mabia, 32, Ruel Selerio, 30, residents of Barangay Ermita; Joel Donila, 51, resident of Barangay Mambaling, Cebu City; and Rolly Austero, 40, resident of Barangay Mactan in Lapu-Lapu City were identified as street-level pushers.

One medium and four small packs of shabu worth P80,000 were recovered from their possession.

Police also recovered several drug paraphernalia and a .38 caliber revolver from Selerio, who tried to escape but failed.

"Lucky for us but unlucky for them kay nag-search rata sa area nya nadakpan nato sila," said Senior Inspector John Kareen Escober of Carbon Police Station.— USJ-R Interns Jeffry Legara and Marenyl Bolhano/KBQ (FREEMAN)