A man listed in the drug watchlist of the Calape Police Station was shot dead by a still unidentified gunman at a remote village in the town on Tuesday night.

According to SPO3 Fausto Isaw Jr., officer-in-charge of the Calape police, operatives were monitoring the movements of the victim, Ariel Jubilla, 34, on days before he was gunned down.

Police were already about to set up an anti-drug operation against him but the gunman got to him first, said Isaw.

Jubilla died on the spot after sustaining a gunshot wound in his head and various parts of his body.

Isaw said that the assailant followed the victim to a secluded area at Sitio Tugas in Barangay Sta. Cruz where the attack was carried out.

According to Isaw, police are eyeing involvement in narcotics trade as the primary motive in the murder of Jubilla.

Jubilla remained active in illegal drug activities prior to his death, while he was also known to be a drug user, said Isaw.

He previously surrendered under the police’s Oplan Tokhang but allegedly continued involvement in illegal drugs after.

Police also repeatedly called on Jubilla to end his illegal drug activities but the appeals were ignored by the victim. (A. Doydora)