Drug surrenderer shot dead

By Glazyl Y. Masculino

BACOLOD City – Police are looking into the killing of a drug surrenderer in La Carlota City, Negros Occidental last Friday, as drug-related.

Jimmy Tortosa, 36, of Barangay 2, a driver, succumbed to 17 gunshot wounds in the different parts of his body.

Police Senior Master Sergeant Aaron Selda, case investigator of La Carlota City Police Station, said the victim was about to ride his motorcycle when one of the three unidentified armed persons alighted from a gray Toyota Innova parked beside the street in Barangay 1 and shot him.

Police recovered from the scene 14 fired bullets from a .45 caliber firearm.

Police Lieutenant Colonel Lowell Garinganao, city police chief, said the victim was under their drugs watchlist and classified as a street-level individual.

Based on their monitoring, the victim allegedly continued engaging in illegal drugs, Garinganao said. “Gagamit siya, kag kung kis-a gabaligya man gulugagmay,” he added.

Garinganao said that an improvised tooter was also recovered from the victim’s motorcycle.

Garinganao said they are eyeing a possible failed illegal drug transaction as a possible motive behind the killing.

However, he said they are also exploring other angles. “Bais may naka-away man siya or nagka atraso,” the police chief added.