DRUG WAR OR WAR ON DRUGS?: Bacolod cops focus on drug-related killings

By Glazyl Y. Masculino

BACOLOD City – The Bacolod City Police Office (BCPO) will conduct in-depth investigations on drug-related killings in this city.

This, after another shooting incident happened here that resulted in the death of a drug surrenderer at Barangay 12 last Thursday.

The latest victim was identified as John King Porras, 34, of Purok Bolinao, Barangay 1 here.

Police Major Ramel Sarona, head of Police Station 1, said Porras was sitting in a tricycle while waiting for someone when an unidentified man on a motorcycle arrived and shot him at close range.

Porras suffered a lone gunshot wound in the head and expired an hour later at Corazon Locsin Montelibano Memorial Regional Hospital here.

Sarona said they could not yet establish if the suspect tailed Porras or was already in the area.

The tricycle driver was unharmed.

Police recovered from the scene a .45-caliber ammunition shell, and a slug.

Sarona said they are eyeing illegal drugs as possible motive in the incident, considering the background of the victim.

Sarona said they ruled out grudges because the victim’s family told the police that the victim had no enemies.

However, they will continue to investigate and look for closed circuit television (CCTV) camera footage in nearby establishments to identify the perpetrator.

This is the fourth shooting incident to happen here in May 2021.

On Wednesday, a suspected drug personality from Victorias City in Negros Occidental was also shot dead at Barangay Estefania here.

Police Major Sherlock Gabana, information officer of Bacolod City Police Office (BCPO), said that Police Colonel Manuel Placido, BCPO director, directed all station commanders to solve the shooting incidents, especially drug-related killings in their respective areas.

Gabana said the BCPO will focus probing these cases to determine the reason behind these incidents.

“Hibalu-on ta kung bala drug war ini or failed illegal drug transaction,” he added.

Although he mentioned a possible drug war, Gabana said that it might only involve small time drug groups.

“Siguro may ara nga gusto solohan lang tanan, tapos may ma affect na transaction nila, or lansehay man kis-a,” he said.

Gabana assured that the BCPO does not neglect these cases and is trying to solve them.