By Glazyl Y. Masculino
BACOLOD City – Two shooting incidents involving a police officer and a businessman on Sunday are being linked to the illegal drug trade.
The death of Police Staff Sergeant Joseph Nepomuceno Jr., 37, of Barangay 14 here, is believed to be related to his work as an anti-illegal drug operative under the City Drug Enforcement Unit (CDEU) of the Bacolod City Police Office (BCPO).
Police Staff Sergeant Joseph Nepomuceno Jr. 37, of Barangay 14 here, who was on duty, was gunned down by two unidentified motorcycle-riding suspects along Rosario Street, Barangay 38 here last Sunday.
Police Major Ramel Sarona, head of Police Station 1, said Nepomuceno was riding his motorcycle to the downtown area when he was probably tailed by the perpetrators from his house.
Sarona said the perpetrators overtook the victim and shot him at close range when he slowed down at Rosario Street.
Nepomuceno suffered a gunshot wound each in the mouth and back and two more on his chest.
He was rushed to Corazon Locsin Montelibano Memorial Regional Hospital (CLMMRH) here where he was declared dead on arrival.
Police recovered from the scene fired cartridges of .45 caliber ammunition.
They also recovered Nepomuceno’s service firearm.
Sarona said they are eyeing retaliation as motive since the CDEU arrested many high-value drug suspects.
“Daw amo-amo gid na guro, gina lantaw namun na basi retaliation gid because of his work,” the station commander said.
Sarona said they have no lead yet on the identity of the perpetrators, whose faces were covered with helmets, while the gunman-backrider was wearing a black jacket.
Sarona said they are looking for copies of closed circuit television (CCTV) camera footages near the crime scene to help their investigation.
Meanwhile, the BCPO is saddened by the loss of one of its dedicated personnel and hardworking operatives, who had been instrumental in the arrest of several high-value individual (HVI) drug peddlers and prohibited drug users here.
The BCPO flew the Philippine flag at half-mast to mourn Nepomuceno.
Police Brigadier General Rolando Miranda, director of Police Regional Office (PRO)-6 has directed Police Colonel Manuel Placido, BCPO director, to exert all efforts to bring justice to the fallen operative.
BIZMAN GUNNED DOWN
Meanwhile, police are investigating what triggered perpetrators to kill a businessman at Crossing Antipolo Lubi, Barangay Talaban, Himamaylan City, Negros Occidental last Sunday.
The victim was identified by the police as Marvin Diancin, 40, of Barangay Mambagaton, a supplier of bamboo products.
Police Lieutenant Arturo Margallo Jr., deputy police chief of Himamaylan City Police Station, said that Diancin was riding a motorcycle when he was flagged down by two unidentified persons by the roadside.
Diancin stopped and one of the perpetrators suddenly shot him and fled.
Police recovered from the scene 10 fired cartridges and two fired bullets of .45-caliber ammunition.
The victim was declared dead in a hospital.
Margallo said Diancin was allegedly classified as a drug pusher in Kabankalan City.
In fact, he was under probation for a drug offense, according to Margallo.
Although Diancin was linked to illegal drugs, Margallo said they are still probing other possible angles to determine the real motive of the incident.
