‘Drug surrenderer’ gunned down, pal wounded

By Glazyl Y. Masculino

 

BACOLOD City – Two persons with alleged links to the illegal drug trade were shot at Purok Tilapia, Barangay 3 here yesterday.

The incident resulted in the death of Melchor Chavez, 40, of the said village.

Lord Dave Robite of Barangay 34 here was wounded in the incident.

Captain Leo Estopa, head of Police Station 2, said Chavez and Robite were talking inside the former’s house along with two others, when two suspects suddenly entered and shot Chavez.

Estopa said Chavez succumbed to head injuries, while Robite suffered a gunshot wound in his left hand and was taken to Corazon Locsin Montelibano Memorial Regional Hospital (CLMMRH) here.

The gunman reportedly fled on board a white van.

Recovered from the scene were three empty shells, a slug, and four unfired cartridges of .45 caliber ammunition.

Estopa said they are eyeing grudges or illegal drugs as possible angles behind the incident because Chavez’s father was a drug surrenderer, while Robite had previous criminal cases and is a drug surrenderer as well.

He said they already have persons of interest but refused to divulge their identities as of now as they believe that the victims knew the perpetrators.