NABUA (CONTRIBUTED PHOTO BY PRO-7)
A RETIRED policeman, who was on a list of alleged drug protectors publicly announced by President Rodrigo Duterte, was shot dead inside his house in Barangay Vito, Minglanilla town, south Cebu at past 9 a.m. yesterday.
SPO1 Ronilo Nabua, 49, who retired from the service in 2008, suffered a gunshot wound on his head.
He was rushed to the South General Hospital in Naga City, which adjoins Minglanilla, but was declared dead on arrival by the attending physician, said PO3 Alfredo Pagaling of the Minglanilla Municipal Police Office.
Based on police investigation, Nabua was about to enter his living room when the suspect, identified only as “Rebak,” showed up and shot him on the head using a .45 caliber pistol.
The assailant also shot a certain Dario Cellote, who was repairing Nabua’s vehicle at the time. Cellote was rushed to the Vicente Sotto Memorial Medical Center (VSMMC) in Cebu City where he was treated for a gunshot wound on his cheek.
Rebak, described by police as a former soldier, remains at large.
A hot pursuit operation was launched to arrest Rebak as investigators were still trying to determine the motive behind Nabua’s killing.
Pagaling said Rebak lived in Nabua’s house for about a month.
A witness told police that he seemed uneasy while waiting for Nabua to arrive yesterday and paced around the house.
“The suspect kept on walking to and fro. And when Nabua arrived, Rebak immediately shot the former policeman,” said Pagaling, quoting a witness’ account.
Nabua joined the police service in 1986 but availed of an optional retirement on Dec. 31, 2008.
He was among police officers, either retired or in active service, who were alleged by Duterte as drug protectors.
“The investigation continues. We could not make any conclusions for now,” Pagaling told CDN on Nabua’s death.
Last August 3, another ex-policeman from Cebu, PO1 Dave Agcol, who was also named a drug protector by the President, was killed in a police operation.
Agcol, who was dismissed from service over his alleged involvement in illegal drugs, was killed in an alleged shootout with the Regional Special Operations Group and the Regional Anti-Illegal Drugs Special
Operations Task Force in the City of Naga, southern Cebu.
Agcol allegedly refused to surrender and instead fired at the police operatives.