Turf wars and funds anomaly might be helping law enforcers rid Bohol of drug runners, but every dead man on the street is still a case to solve.

City chief of police, PSupt. George Vale, pointed out that even if drug-related shooting incidents pluck the bad guys, they are still cases that the police have to solve.

It is, therefore, still additional work for investigators, he said.

During the Provincial Peace and Order Council (PPOC) meeting on Friday, October 30, Police provincial director, PSSupt. Dennis Agustin, reported that the common motive of the shooting incidents recorded in October was involvement in illegal drugs.

“Nearly every shooting incident in the past months and other isolated shootings all share one thing in common, drugs,” Agustin said.

Shooting incidents classified under cases of physical injury increased from three in September to seven in the period, October 1-25.

Of the seven cases recorded in six areas, the two incidents in Tagbilaran had been concluded to be drug-related. The other one recorded in the town of Danao had been traced to personal grudge, while the police still have to determine the motives behind those recorded in each of the towns of Ubay, Dauis, Buenavista and Bien-Unido.

In the seven shooting incidents, three victims in Tagbilaran and one in Buenavista died, while those in the four towns only sustained injuries.

The latest victim was identified as one Marcos Alangadi, also known as Makoy, a 46-year-old vendor at the Integrated Bus Terminal, and a resident of Muslim Village in Barangay Taloto, this city.

Based on initial investigation, the victim received a call through his cellphone at around 8:40 p.m. on Sunday, October 25. He then hurriedly went out of their house and rode a motorcycle driven by one Joseph Otero Jr.

After a few minutes, both Alangadi and Otero were already found dead along CPG North Avenue at corner Upper Sto. Niño Village in Barangay Dao, this city.

Alangadi sustained a gunshot wound in the left side of the head (only point of entry and without an exit), while Otero sustained gunshot wounds at the right side of the head as point of entry and left side of the head as point of exit.

Further investigation had it that the gunman was alone and fled with an undetermined getaway vehicle.

According to one of the residents nearby, he saw a man wearing a cap in the area at around 6 pm. that day.

Otero, also known as Tata, was 26 years old, a former security guard and a resident of Sikatuna Extension in Barangay Cogon, this city.

Scene of the crime operatives, led by forensic investigator at the Provincial Crime Laboratory—PInsp. Jovani Abregana—recovered two .45 caliber fired cartridge case, a slug of .45 caliber ammunition from the area.

They also recovered a plastic scoop, and a black Honda XRM motorcycle with plate number 7494 YA.

From the possession of Alangadi, they recovered a cellular phone, a key holder, wallet, towel and a cash amounting to P947.

From the possession of Otero, they recovered four open transparent plastic sachet containing traces of shabu, a folded aluminum foil, two lighters, a simcard, shades, a Unisilver watch, three rings, one bracelet and some cash.

Further investigation and verification made found out that Alangadi was involved in illegal drug activities and was arrested by the Tagbilaran City Anti-Illegal Drugs Special Operation Group on May 16 last year by the virtue of a search warrant and was on bail.

Another shooting incident was recorded in the city at around 9:20 p.m. on October 6 wherein the assailant also remained unidentified

Police identified the victim as one Reynaldo Apongan, a 46-year-old tricycle driver, married and a resident of Purok 3 in Barangay Taloto.

He was shot dead near their residence.

Based on investigation and verification, the police found out that the victim was involved in illegal drugs and an ex-convict for the crime of robbery, and a suspected “notorious robbery personality”.

Agustin also reported that another personality in the target list for illegal drugs was shot at around 8 a.m. on October 14 in Barangay Catigbi-an, Buenavista.

Police identified the victim as one Marlon Manatad, a 29-year-old resident of Catigbi-an, Buenavista, jobless and married.

He was shot to death by three pairs of riding in tandem who still remained unidentified.

Investigators concluded that the motive of the killing could either be personal grudges or involvement in illegal drugs.

This is considering that the victim was a wanted person who has a pending case of frustrated murder and also in the target list for illegal drugs.

In another shooting incident in the town of Danao, the police identified the suspect as one Russel Cempron and the victim as Virgilio Cajes.

The victim is a resident of Barangay Concepcion, Danao, who was shot near his residence at around 5:46 p.m. on October 11.

Cajes survived from the gunshot wound.

Investigators concluded the motive was personal grudge.

Another shooting incident was recorded at around 11 p.m. on October 4 in Barangay Tipolo, Ubay.

Police identified the victim as one Armando Pandan, a 24-year-old resident of Barangay Humay-humay in Ubay, married.

He survived, while the assailant remains unidentified and at large.

Another unsolved shooting incident was recorded at around 7:51 p.m. on October 6 in Barangay Totolan, Dauis.

Police identified the victim as one Dennis Sumonod, a 26-year-old painter, married and a resident of Purok 6 in Barangay Totolan, Dauis.

He survived, while the gunman remains unidentified.

In Barangay Nueva Esperanza, Bien-Unido, an unidentified gunman shot and wounded one Rolando Avenido at around 1:10 a.m. on October 18.

Avenido is a 55-year-old retired police, married and a resident of Barangay Nueva Esperanza, Bien Unido.

ILLEGAL DRUGS AND FIREARMS

Different police units in the province conducted 33 operations against illegal drugs from October 1-25 which resulted to the arrest of 42 persons and filing of 50 cases in court.

During the period, the Bohol Police Provincial Office confiscated a total of 51.45 grams of shabu and several drug paraphernalia.

The BPPO also conducted 12 operations against illegal possession of firearms during the period, resulting to the arrest of 11 persons and filing of five cases in court.

During the operations, the police confiscated 11 firearms, four were high-powered and seven low-powered.

To address criminality, the BPPO intended to “push through with the chokepoints through barriers or gates to close minor roads after 10 pm and to open them at around 5 am.

There should be “speedboats for seaborne operations to counter illegal activities like drug smuggling and possible kidnapping of foreign nationals and tourists in the province,” the police provincial director recommended.

“With the massive crackdown against drug trafficking, BPPO renewed its calls for the public to actively help law enforcers in waging a hard fight against the proliferation of illegal drugs, which have been blamed on the rise of heinous crimes in the province,” Agustin said.