Vigilante aside, the turf war besetting drug rings and the successive anti-illegal drugs operations of law enforcement agencies had drug runners copping out.

PO1 Benjie Añana of the Panglao Police Station noted that the illegal drugs supply in the tourist town has dwindled recently, attributing to the constant supply reduction and demand reduction campaign of law enforcers and the community.

He said the feedback is no longer the same as in the past when Panglao drew the impression that illegal drugs peddling had been rampant in the town.

This is the result of the long-term campaign on demand reduction wherein the police forged partnership with the community in conducting symposia in the barangays on the harmful effects of drug abuse; and on supply reduction wherein law enforcement agencies successively conducted raids and buy-bust operations.

Añana also appreciated the cooperation of the public in intelligence gathering which had helped a lot in tracking down drug personalities.

In addition, the internal problems of drug rings discouraged target recruits, thus, trimming down the underground organization.

Murders of drug personality have also been attributed to turf war and drug ring hit squads running after delinquent illegal drug peddlers, aside from perceived presence of vigilante.

The latest victim of drug-related shooting incidents was recorded in Panglao late night on Sunday.

Añana identified the latest victim as one Irod Villasencio, also known as “Yubyub”, 35 years old, who was a native of Marang, General Santos City and was staying at purok-4 in Poblacion, Panglao.

The victim was in the watchlist of drug personalities in Panglao.

Panglao Police Station received a report from a concerned citizen at around 9:40 pm on November 29 that a man had just been shot at Tipolo St. in the Poblacion area.

Panglao Police officer-in-charge, Senior Inspector Joemar Pomarejos, immediately sent a team to verify the report.

At the crime scene, the responding team found a man sprawling by the roadside who was later identified as Irod Villasencio, a jobless man with a live-in partner.

The victim’s live-in partner, Irene Boniao, told the police team that at around 9:35 pm, she heard a burst of gunfire, four shots, outside the house they were renting.

When she checked outside, she was shocked to see that it was her live-in partner.

The victim sustained three gunshot wounds in the chest and one on the back.

The scene of the crime operatives recovered four empty shells .45 caliber.

The victim’s live-in partner and the victim’s mother admitted that the victim was involved in illegal drugs trade and concluded that it was a drug-related incident.

This was supported by the police record that the victim was in the watchlist of drug personalities in Panglao.