MABALACAT CITY – Motorcycle riding-in-tandem gunmen felled two alleged illegal drugs traffickers included in the police list of target personalities in separate incidents at Barangay Mabiga and Bgy. Duquit here on Tuesday afternoon.
Supt. Juritz Rara, Mabalacat City police chief, identified the victims as Reynor Pineda, 40, of Democracia St., Barangay Poblacion and Jonel Paras, 33, chicharon vendor, and a resident of 3235 Katangian St. in Barangay Duquit in this city.
Pineda was on board a SYM motorcycle without a license plate when shot at point blank in front of the San Rafael Church in Barangay Mabiga by riding-in-tandem suspects past 12 noon.
Policemen found the victim slumped to the ground with cardboard place on top of the body with markings “DRUG PUSHER AKO HUWAG NYO AKO TULARAN.”
Found in Pineda’s possession include quantitative amount of methamphetamine hydrochloride (shabu) believed to be for distribution to his clients.
Witness Alvin Dula Antonio, 46, said he heard three consecutive gun shots fired by two unidentified males riding on a single motorcycle with no plate. Antonio said the two suspects headed north after shooting Pineda.
A relative of Paras on the other hand identified as Justine Orosco Paras, 22, said his uncle was waiting for buses on a shed when shot twice by a suspect riding a black Suzuki Raider motorcycle with no plate.
The suspect wearing a black shirt and brown short with his face covered with white cloth shot the victim with a cal. 38 revolver hitting his head.
The witness described the assailant as medium-built, about 5’7” to 5’8” in height.
Rara said he ordered an investigation to determine the motive in the broad daylight killings. He said investigators are still checking whether there is only one group of suspects in both incidents.
Scores of suspected illegal drugs personalities operating in this city have been killed by riding-in-tandem suspects. – (With reports from Larica Angelica Cunanan)