Lawyer handling drug cases slain in Bacolod City ambush

BACOLOD CITY — A lawyer known here for handling drug cases was killed in an ambush perpetrated by still unidentified assailants on board a motorcycle on Thursday morning.

Rafael Atotubo, 62, died of a bullet wound in the head after he was shot in front of his rented house at the corner of the Galo and BBB Streets in Barangay 23, Bacolod City, Negros Occidental, about 11:30 a.m.

The police had yet to identify the assailants who were wearing helmets and black jackets on board a black motorcycle.

Atotubo was declared dead on arrival at the Bacolod Doctor’s Hospital, said Senior Supt. Francisco Ebreo, Bacolod City Police Office acting director.

Senior Insp. Rey Tolosa, Station 4 chief, said they were looking into all angles of the killing, including personal grudges and the cases he handled.

Tolosa confirmed that the slain lawyer handled drug-related cases, among others.

Recovered from the scene of the incident were two empty shells believed to be that of 9-mm pistol.

Tolosa added that they were now securing CCTV footage from the nearby commercial establishments, and still gathering testimonies from possible witnesses./lb