A Baptist Church pastor who actively campaigned against illegal drugs was shot dead by two motorcycle-riding men in Barangay Bonbon, Cebu City Sunday afternoon.
Crisostomo Maternal Jr., an evangelist of the Bonbon Mission Church, was driving his motorcycle on his way home when the unidentified men shot him past 5 p.m.
The 46-year-old pastor sustained a gunshot wound on his left temple near the ear.
He was rushed to the Perpetual Succour Hospital but was declared dead on arrival.
Senior Insp. Elisandro Quijano, homicide section chief of the Cebu City Police Office, said Maternal had tipped authorities about illegal drug operations in Bonbon.
The victim, he said, also educated people about the ill-effects of drugs during his sermons.
“Based on the information that we received, Maternal was an anti-drug crusader,” said Quijano in an interview.
But he said they are considering all angles in the investigation.
“Personal grudge might also be involved here. So we really have to look at all the possibilities,” Quijano said.
According to the police officer, Maternal campaigned for a political group prior and during the May 9 elections.
Acting Cebu City Mayor Margot Osmeña said Maternal is one of the leaders of the Bando Osmeña-Pundok Kauswagan (BO-PK) in Bonbon.
Quijano said Maternal had received death threats sent through text messages a day before he was killed.
The police officer advised anti-drug crusaders to coordinate with them.
“Anti-drug crusaders really help the police in our campaign against illegal drugs. But it’s not easy to have that kind of advocacy. Being an anti-drug crusader entails risks. And so, if you receive threats, please tell the police,” Quijano said.
Maternal’s friend Junrey Lagunday said he saw the victim driving his motorcycle when suddenly the backrider of another motorcycle shot the pastor.
The victim immediately fell to the ground, Lagunday said.
Maternal was then transported by a barangay ambulance to the hospital but he did not make it alive.