Tipster on Iligan City drug trade shot dead

Another casualty in war on drugs. (CDN FILE PHOTO/ PHOTO FROM POLICE FILES)

ILIGAN CITY – A man who tipped police about illegal drug activities here, was shot dead in Barangay Saray around 10:30 p.m. Wednesday, the police said Thursday.

Supt. Leony Roy Ga, the city police director, said Ronald Fuentes was drinking with some friends when attacked by masked men.

He suffered seven gunshot wounds, which were inflicted by bullets coming from a .45-pistol, Ga said.

The victim was the husband of Barangay Saray chairman chief Mayla Fuentes, Ga added.

Asked what the possible motive could be for the killing of Fuentes, Ga said the police were still investigating the murder.

Fuentes, he said, also reportedly operated video karera machines.

Ga said Fuentes’ killing brought to 30 the number of individuals killed here for still unclear reasons since July.

In Western Mindanao, at least 49 suspected drug pushers had been killed since July, according to Chief Supt. Billy Beltran, the Zamboanga peninsula police director.

Beltran said of the figure, 28 were killed in a shootout with law enforcers while 21 others were  killed by still unidentified perpetrators.

“Presently, these 21 deaths are being investigated,” he said.

Senior Supt. Luisito Magnaye, the Zamboanga City police director, said of the 49 drug-related deaths, 12 were recorded in the city.

“These are from legitimate operations, we don’t have cases of summary executions here in Zamboanga City. Those killed violently resisted,” Magnaye said.  (With a report from Julie Alipala, Inquirer Mindanao) SFM