ILOILO City – Motorcycle-riding gunmen shot a drug suspect to death in Zone 4, Barangay Calumpang, Molo district yesterday morning, the sixth to die in Region 6 since Sept. 2.
The 42-year-old Don Azucena of Barangay North Baluarte, Molo also became the 66th drug war casualty in Western Visayas since the campaign started in July 2016.
Azucena was peppered with bullets while waiting to catch a jeepney around 9:30 a.m.
He voluntarily surrendered in 2016 and completed a drug rehabilitation program, according to the Molo police station.
There were at least two gunmen, according to the police, citing statements from witnesses who claimed the riding-in-tandem assassins had two backups in motorcycles, too.
The gunmen were wearing helmets so no one in the vicinity of the shooting had a good look at their faces.
Azucena’s father Danilo insisted his son had been “clean” for over a year now.
“Dugay na. Mga tinuig na guro pag untat ‘ya. Si nanay ‘ya nagpa-surrender sa iya,” said Danilo.
Molo police commander Chief Inspector Marlon Valencia said Azucena had no other derogatory record except for being a drug user and pusher and suspected member of the Odicta drug group.
“We have not monitored him engaging in illegal drugs since his surrender and rehabilitation but we could not say for certain he had indeed completely stopped his illegal activities,” said Valencia.
He also said he had no idea if Azucena was considered a target by other law enforcement units or agencies.
Azucena died of gunshot wounds on the head, back and arms.
According to Superintendent Hilarion Roga, commander of the Police Regional Office 6’s Scene of the Crime Operatives, his men recovered from the crime scene spent bullet shells of .45 and .9mm handguns.
The Molo police has not ruled out anything in its probe. According to Valencia, investigators are exploring all possibilities and not just the illegal drugs angle.
Meanwhile, the following drug suspects died in police operations these past six days:
* Gabriel Poblacion, 34, in Barangay Tacas, Jaro, Iloilo City (Sept. 2)
* Jennifer Gobatanga, 32, in Barangay San Pedro, San Jose, Antique (Sept. 3)
* Gayrell Gobtanga, 38, in Barangay San Pedro, San Jose, Antique (Sept. 3)
* Jonathan Baron, 56, in Barangay Jelicuon Montinola, Cabatuan, Iloilo (Sept. 5)
* Rex Lagura in Barangay Aldeguer, Sara, Iloilo (Sept. 5)./PN