‘Drug middleman’ in Malabon shot dead

A construction worker who allegedly served as a middleman for a drug dealer was shot dead at his Malabon City shanty Monday night.

The police on Tuesday have yet to identify the killer of Jose Ricky San Juan, 41, who was shot in the face while watching TV at his home on Dulong Ugnayan Street, Barangay (village) Concepcion. He was declared dead on arrival at Pagamutang Bayan ng Malabon around 10:40 p.m.

An initial investigation showed that the gunman peered into the house through an open window to find his target. A 9-mm bullet casing was later recovered at the scene.

The victim’s widow, Florinda, told authorities that her husband’s friends often used him as their “purchaser” whenever they wanted to buy “shabu” from a known drug pusher in the community, according to the Malabon police chief, Senior Supt. Severino Padua Abad Jr.

Also on Monday night, the police arrested two alleged drug pushers in separate sting operations in neighboring Navotas and Valenzuela cities. First to be arrested was Jayson Leaño, 25, on Monroy Street, Barangay Navotas West, after handing P300 worth of shabu to a poseur buyer.

Later, Janice Flores, 32, was caught selling less than a gram of the drug to P03 Jesus Menes of the Valenzuela police, who went undercover for the transaction on Palo Alto Street, Marulas.–Rafael L. Antonio