By: Jennifer P. Rendon
ANOTHER suspected drug personality in Iloilo City was killed by suspected riding-in-tandem gunmen afternoon of Sept. 18, 2019
Police identified the victim as Roy Goco, 42, of Barangay McArthur, La Paz district.
Goco succumbed to multiple gunshot injuries, including one to the head. He was rushed to West Visayas Medical Center where he was proclaimed dead on arrival.
Police Major Mark Evan Salvo, La Paz police chief, said the incident happened around 3 p.m. Wednesday as the victim was cycling from Arroyo Street, City Proper, where his family lives, going to McArthur St., La Paz, where his common law wife resides.
At Barangay Rizal, Lapuz, two motorcycle-riding suspects (MRS) drove past him. The backrider then peppered him with bullets.
Witnesses claimed the suspects then stopped and fired “finishing shots” at the victim.
Salvo said Goco was imprisoned for more than three years for violation of Republic Act 9165 (Comprehensive Dangerous Drugs Act of 2002) in 2016.
He was released from prison on Sept 14 after a plea bargaining agreement.
He was also involved in robbery and theft cases, police reports indicted.
Salvo said they are still investigating Goco’s murder. He admitted, though, that the illegal drug trade is on top of the possible motives.
UNSOLVED KILLINGS
Killings, especially those involving drug personalities, continue to plague Iloilo City.
So far, none of the killings with drug personalities as victims was solved.
Before Goco’s death, the latest incident happened Aug 17. Interestingly, it also happened at around 3 p.m. and targeted a newly-freed convict.
Riding-in-tandem gunmen killed Robert Isubal, 43, of Barangay East Timawa, Molo, Iloilo City, who just came out from prison three days before he was shot dead.
Isubal, with his wife and siblings, were standing at their talaba (oyster) stall when a man wearing a black helmet approached shot him several times.
Less than 24 hours before Isubal was killed, another drug personality was killed at 8:00 p.m. of Aug. 16 at Barangay Taft North, Mandurriao district.
Mark Muller, 38, a caller center agent residing at Cuartero village, Jaro, was repeatedly shot by MRS.
He was listed on the Barangay Anti-Drug Abuse Council (BADAC) as a drug user.
While he surrendered through Oplan Tokhang, he did not undergo the community-based drug rehabilitation program.
Including the cases of Goco, Isubal, and Muller, 18 cases of killings perpetrated by motorcycle-riding suspects have occurred in the city since September 2018. Most of the victims were suspected drug peddlers.
