After being ousted from post for ‘drug links’ Negros Oriental jail guard shot to death

DUMAGUETE CITY, Philippines —  A jail guard of the Negros Oriental Detention and Rehabilitation Center (NODRC), who was earlier ousted from his post for alleged involvement in the "drug trade" inside the facility, was shot to death by yet unidentified "riding-in-tandem" assassins in Dumaguete City yesterday afternoon.

The 63-year-old Artemio Molas Zerna, resident of Malalangsi in Pamplona town of Negros Oriental, sustained eight gunshot wounds in different parts of his body inflicted from a .45-caliber pistol, while he was driving his Honda XRM motorcycle, without plate number.

Eyewitnesses account revealed that Zerna was travelling northbound — reportedly on his way to the Provincial General Services Office where he was assigned after his ouster from the NODRC — while the assailants were going south.

The backrider fired several shots at Zerna, a few meters before he reached the bridge at Barangay Poblacion 8 in the city. Residents nearby heard more than five bursts of gunfire, but could not identify the attackers because they were wearing masks and caps.

Zerna was rushed to the nearby Holy Child Hospital where he was put in the intensive care unit due to his critical condition. More than an hour later, or at 12:45 p.m. attending physicians declared him dead, according to his son Abraham.

The police recovered from the crime scene 11 pieces of firearm ammunition and, as of press time, they were still conducting a manhunt to identify and track down Zerna's killers. Superintendent Jonathan Pineda, Dumaguete City Police chief, said they are looking into drugs as one of the angles for the motive of the killing.

Zerna, along with four inmates, was among the subjects of the Operation Greyhound raid at the NODRC last June 21 by the Philippine Drug Enforcement Agency, who found and seized about 80 grams of shabu, estimated to worth about P800,000, from the inmates’ cells.

Seized from Zerna’s makeshift quarter or “kubol,” which was video taped, was “blue book” containing list of collectibles from clients, amounting to P500,000, including deposit slips to unknown personalities. Also found there was a bottle containing empty sachets with shabu residues.

PDEA filed drug charges against Zerna on June 25, alleging that he was “the protector” of the four inmates involved in the drug trade. PDEA-Negros Oriental head Johnna Mirador, who led the surprise raid at the NODRC, said she was convinced that Zerna's alleged involvement in drugs had something to do with his shooting, but her agency will continue to verify this.

Zerna was supposed to undergo preliminary investigation on July 9 for his drug charges, she added. "Ipagpapatuloy pa rin natin ang investigation (sa drug trade). Na-observe namin na nababawasan na (ang droga sa NODRC), pero may mga parties pa rin na ipinapatuloy ito. Susubaybayin pa rin namin 'yan," Mirador said.

For his part, NODRC warden Louie Rastica said he was "shocked" by the news of Zerna’s killing, adding that the administrative charges filed against the victim will be reversed. "Naa man gud tay due process,” he said, adding that the inmates who tested positive for drugs are set to be transferred to the Bilibid in Muntinlupa City on July 18.

Zerna’s live-in partner, Cristina Tigas, said Zerna received death threats more than two months ago and she is willing to name names. She said they came from Tanjay City yesterday this morning to visit his son or daughter there, then Zerna told her he would go back to the PGSO. Minutes later she was informed he was shot near the bridge.