By Jennifer P. Rendon
He may have skirted police operatives but a suspected drug personality failed to shield himself from assassins.
Roberto Amit, a construction worker, was killed while hiding in a makeshift tent at Barangay Pakiad, Oton, Iloilo.
Antonio Montalbo, 50, said two unidentified gunmen roused Amit from his sleep around 1:20 a.m. Wednesday.
Montalbo told police investigators that the noise woke him up but the assailants ordered him to stay on the side and cover his eyes.
The frightened Montalbo followed for his sake.
The two suspects allegedly tried to drag Amit out of the tent but the latter resisted. Shortly later, Montalbo said he heard around five gunfire volleys.
Amit was found lifeless due to multiple gunshot injuries.
Police investigation showed that the 30-year-old Amit was a resident of Zone 3, Barangay San Juan, Molo, Iloilo City but his estranged wife is from Pakiad village.
He allegedly asked to spend the night in the area, as someone was allegedly after him.
Amit was planning to go to Guimaras on Wednesday.
Meanwhile, the Regional Police Drug Enforcement Unit 6 (RPDEU) confirmed that Amit is the same person who fled from an anti-narcotics operation at Barangay Bolilao, Mandurriao, Iloilo City on June 12.
The RPDEU operation led to the arrest of Steve Arroyo, 46, a resident of Barangay Bolilao; and Edgar Peralta, 63, of Barangay San Antonio, Molo.
They yielded around P476,000 worth of suspected shabu.
Both suspects and Amit were jailed for illegal drug offenses.
Lieutenant Colonel Mark Darroca, RPDEU chief, said Amit may have fled with around 2 kilos of drugs which is valued at more or less P13 million, based on Dangerous Drugs Board estimates.
A case for violation of Sections 5 and 11, Article II of Republic Act 9165 was filed against the trio.
As this developed, police investigators have yet to identify the suspects who killed Amit.
But reports are being floated that he may have been killed by “people who knew his whereabouts.”
Just like Arroyo and Peralta, Amit was alleged to be a member of the Abantao drug group.
The group is believed to be the source of drugs seized from alleged peddlers that police arrested recently.
