By Glazyl Y. Masculino
BACOLOD City – Police are probing if the death of the nephew of a barangay official here might be drug-related.
Police Captain Paul Vincent Pendon, head of Police Station 2, said they are still gathering evidence and information to establish the real motive behind the murder of Mark Bonnan Juesna, 34, of Barangay 35 here.
Juesna, who was riding a motorcycle, was gunned down by two unidentified men on another motorcycle along Palanca Street, Barangay 10 here Thursday night.
Pendon said it’s possible that Juesna was called to a meet-up in the area, where he also encountered the perpetrators.
“Dulom na abi na lugar kag ligwin, indi na da alagyan ka tawo gid ya, possible gintawgan siya basi sang suspects para magkadto didto,” Pendon said, adding that police didn’t know the purpose of the victim in the area.
Juesna succumbed to a lone gunshot wound in the head, Pendon said.
The victim was identified by his uncle, Barangay 35 Kagawad Roberto Dela Peña.
Pendon said the family refused to subject Juesna’s body for autopsy.
Police recovered from the scene a fired cartridge and a fired bullet of an unknown firearm.
They also recovered from Juesna an alleged .45-caliber pistol, six ammunition, a magazine, his motorcycle with no registration plate, belt bag, and other personal valuables.
Pendon said the victim was arrested for illegal possession of dangerous drugs in June 2014, but the case was dismissed.
Although he had a record for a drug offense, Pendon said that it is not conclusive yet to link the killing to illegal drugs as the investigation is ongoing.
Pendon also said that Juesna was not part of any drugs watchlist here.
Pendon said they are verifying reports that Juesna was a police asset. “Alegasyon pa lang man, we’ll check,” the station commander added.
Meanwhile, he said they will subject Juesna’s alleged firearm for ballistic or cross matching to determine if it had been used in any gun-related incident.
