Police intelligence officer shot dead in Negros Occidental

BACOLOD CITY, Negros Occidental—A police intelligence operative was shot dead on Tuesday night in La Carlota City, Negros Occidental, which investigators believed could be job-related.

Police Officer 2 John Gallenero Jr. was involved in several antidrugs campaign that led to arrest of drug suspects in La Carlota City, about 43.5 km south of here, said Senior Supt. Milko Lirazan, provincial police director, on Wednesday.

“The La Carlota City police is now pursuing some leads in their investigations, which may help identify suspects in the death of Gallenero,” he said.

Gallenero was drinking soft drinks at an eatery in Barangay 2, La Carlota about 9 p.m. on Tuesday when an unidentified man on board a gray Mitsubishi Adventure Sports Utility Vehicle fired at him, using an M-16 assault rifle.

The police officer suffered multiple gunshot wounds in the back and died on the spot.

A .45-cal. pistol with two magazines of ammunition owned by the slain policeman was recovered from the crime scene.