A drug suspect from Daanbantayan town was gunned down by a motorcycle backrider on Thursday night.
Joseph Pepito, 21, died from a gunshot wound on his head.
PO3 Alfredo Mandal of the Daanbantayan Police Station said Pepito was listed as among the town’s top 10 drugs personalities. He did not surrender when police conducted home visits as part of the Philippine National Police’s “Oplan Tokhang.”
Mandal said that at about 8 p.m. on Thursday, a motorcycle tandem visited Pepito’s residence in Barangay Poblacion in Daanbantayan town.
The backrider disembarked and fired a shot, hitting the victim on his head. Pepito was then seated on a chair placed along the sidewalk of Burgos Street, located about 20 meters away from his house, with two others.
Mandal said it was obvious that the gunman was only after Pepito because he did not harm the victim’s companions who scampered for their safety.
Witnesses said that the gunman was wearing a bonnet to hide his face.
Mandal said they are looking at two angles in Pepito’s death – his involvement in illegal drugs and his theft cases – in their area.
Pepito, he said, was earlier jailed for theft but was later released from detention after his alleged victim decided not to file a case against him. The victim only asked Pepito to pay refund of the P10, 000 worth of cellphone which he stole.