‘Drug personality’ shot dead

BACOLOD City – Police are looking into vengeance or illegal drugs as possible motives for the murder of an alleged drug personality at Hacienda Sta. Cruz, Barangay 20, Victorias City, Negros Occidental last Tuesday.

Police identified the victim as Hilarion Castro, 53, of the said village.

Police Lieutenant Colonel Eduardo Corpuz, city police chief, said the victim was talking to a friend outside their house when an unidentified man walked towards them and allegedly shot him (at close range.)

Corpuz said the gunman reportedly said “isa ka pa,” (you, too) before shooting the victim then fled along with an unidentified companion on board a motorcycle, according to a witness.

The victim succumbed to two gunshot wounds in the chest and another injury in the head.

Police recovered from the scene three empty shells of .45-caliber ammunition, and a dud bullet of the same caliber.

Corpuz said they are checking if the victim was involved in a shooting incident between two families in Barangay 10 two months ago.

“Baka vengeance din, kasi may namatay both parties,” he added.

Corpuz also said the incident could be drug-related considering the information they received allegedly linking the victim to illegal drugs.

He, however, noted that the victim was not included in their drugs watchlist and was previously arrested for illegal gambling.

Corpuz said they already have persons of interest, adding that it happened in broad daylight.

They were also trying to check if there are closed circuit television (CCTV) cameras in the area.