Another drug surrenderer shot dead in Iloilo City

ILOILO CITY -- A drug surrenderer was killed by four unidentified motorcycle-riding suspects in Sooc village, Arevalo, Iloilo City on Friday night.

The victim, Bengie Abacajin, 41, of Barangay Sto. Niño Norte, Arevalo, succumbed to three gunshot wounds in his body, said Insp. Benjie Ballejera, Arevalo Police chief. 

Ballejera said the victim was riding his tricycle when his assailants, on board two motorcycles, shot him at about 6:45 p.m. Recovered from the crime scene were four empty shells of a .45-caliber pistol.

The victim was brought to the Western Visayas Medical Center but was declared dead on arrival by attending physicians.

Ballejera said Abacajin surrendered during the “Oplan Tokhang” in 2016 because he was on their list of drug users and completed his rehabilitation last June.

Police cannot determine if drugs were the motive behind the killing as Abacajin no longer engaged in illegal drug activities.

Meanwhile, Ballejera confirmed that the victim was the former caretaker of the rest house of lawyer Edeljulio Romero, 50, who was killed by three unidentified suspects at the Culasi Port in Roxas City, Capiz at about 12:45 p.m. on the same day.

Romero was the legal counsel of slain suspected Western Visayas drug lord Melvin Odicta Sr.

Abacajin is the fourth fatal victim of riding-in-tandem shooting as three other similar incidents took place in the districts of Lapaz, Molo, and Jaro during the first two weeks of September. 

The series of shootings prompted the Iloilo City Police Office (ICPO) to call for the creation of a focus team to conduct in-depth investigation. 

In a press conference on Wednesday, Senior Supt. Martin Defensor Jr., ICPO director, said the team would be composed of three police officers from the intelligence division.  (PNA)


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http://www.pna.gov.ph/articles/1049532
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