Roxas City Shooting Tied to Illegal Drug Trade

By Felipe V. Celino

ROXAS CITY, Capiz — Police believe a shootout on the morning of May 24 in Barangay Punta Tabuc was linked to illegal drug activity.

The incident occurred at Crossing Cassandra Railway in the village, where a man identified only as alias Jun of Barangay 9 was riding a motorcycle with a female backrider.

Barangay Kagawad Rene Barrios, the first official to respond, said three unidentified suspects fired at the victims but missed.

CCTV footage showed that Jun fired back at the assailants before a fourth suspect, riding a second motorcycle, also opened fire but likewise missed.

The victims quickly fled the scene, while the suspects abandoned one of their motorcycles, which is now in police custody for investigation.

Responding officers recovered four empty .45 caliber shells at the scene, believed to be from the suspects’ firearms.

Police also recovered 50 empty sachets of suspected shabu from the area where one of the gunmen had positioned himself during the attack.

Another .45 caliber shell was found nearby.

Police said they have identified persons of interest in the shooting incident.

According to Police Chief Master Sgt. Ramil Arcangeles, Punta Tabuc Barangay Captain Nestor Buenviaje provided the names of the potential suspects.

An investigation is ongoing to confirm the identities and motive of those involved.