Former cop running for office killed; drug suspects fall in Legazpi, Naga

LEGAZPI CITY --- A former policeman who was running for councilor was gunned down Saturday evening by a still unidentified gunman at the former’s house in Cataingan town in Masbate, a police report said.

Killed was Romeuel Medina, 40, married, of Barangay Poblacion of the said town, Police Chief Inspector Maria Luisa Calubaquib, Philippine National Police (PNP) Bicol spokesperson, reported.

Medina was a former policeman, He was running for councilor in the upcoming May local election.

Calubaquib, quoting police report, said the victim was about to open the gate at his residence at around 7:00 p.m. Saturday last week when a lone gunman armed with a .45 caliber pistol fired at close range at the back portion of his head, killing him instantly.

The victim was rushed to a nearby hospital but was declared dead by attending physicians. Witnesses told the police the suspect fled towards Masbate City.

Police probers are still looking into two possible motives of the killing that could either be political or insurgency-related. They did not elaborate.

Meanwhile, Over P.8 million worth of suspected shabu were seized while four alleged notorious drug pushers were collared on Tuesday afternoon by anti-narcotics agents in two separate police anti-drug sting in the cities of Legazpi and Naga, a police report yesterday showed.

Arrested during a buy-bust operation were Irene Villanueva, her sister Jernalyn and Maricel Rangasajo, all residents of Barangay Pigcale in Legazpi City.

According to Enrique Lucero, agent of the Philippine Drug Enforcement Agency (PDEA), Villanueva who is considered No. 8 in high-value target of the PDEA watch list is a member of the so-called “Tres Marias,” an illegal drug group operating in the provinces of Albay and Sorsogon.

The suspects were collared inside the prime suspect’s residence in Brgy. Pigcale at about 3:20p.m. Tuesday with 100 grams of shabu worth P680,000.

Barangay Pigcale is a coastal village tagged as a “drug hot spot” area in this city.

The suspects have been the subject of police casing following reports that they were getting their supplies from their own relatives who are currently locked inside the National Bilibid Prison (NBP)for illegal drug peddling and possession, Lucero said.

In Naga City, Jerwin Ajero, alias “Buwaya,” 32, married of Barangay Concepcion Pequena, was nabbed by police anti-narcotics operatives atinside his residence at around 1:30 p.m. Tuesday, the police report said. The police raiding team was able to seize from the suspect P170,000 worth of shabu.

The suspect’s name was in the PDEA drug watch list, the report also said.