TWO men linked to illegal drug activities were shot dead by unidentified masked assailants in separate incidents in Minglanilla town and Dalaguete town in Cebu province last Saturday.
In Barangay Poblacion Ward 4, Minglanilla town, three persons wearing masks and jackets shot down habal-habal (motorcycle-for-hire) driver Ramon Espina inside the kitchen of his home at past 9 p.m. last Saturday.
Police said Espina and his family were sleeping when the three men barged into the house and entered the kitchen.
When Espina checked what caused the noise, he was shot thrice by the suspects who then ran out and sped away.
The victim was rushed to the Minglanilla District Hospital where he died.
Police found spent shells at the crime scene. Supt. Dexter Calacar, Minglanilla police chief, said they are looking at personal grudge and drug angle as the motives behind the murder.
In Barangay Poblacion, Dalaguete town, a 26-year-old resident was shot by an unidentified assailant at Sitio Guiwanon at past 1 a.m. yesterday.
Dalaguete police said the victim identified as Jhon Christopher Eriño had just attended a friend’s wake when he was shot several times by the motorcycle-riding assailant just as he was heading home.
Eight spent shells from one .45 caliber pistol were recovered from the crime scene.
Police said Eriño was a drug dealer who surrendered during their Oplan Tokhang in the area last December.