Drug rehab ‘graduate’ slain, another busted in Quezon

LUCENA CITY –– A former drug surrenderer and graduate of the local government rehabilitation program was shot and killed in Candelaria town in Quezon province Thursday night.

Ruel Andal, 36, was killed by a still unidentified gunman while walking home in Barangay San Isidro around 8:30 p.m.

The report said the assailant armed with a handgun suddenly appeared and shot the victim who died on the spot.

One spent shell from a caliber .9mm pistol was recovered at the crime scene.

Police tagged the victim as a former drug user who voluntarily surrendered and submitted himself to the local government “Simula ng Pagasa” (Sipag) program to help him on the road to recovery through spiritual and moral values training.

However, police intelligence record revealed that the victim had returned to the illegal drugs scene as user and pusher.
An investigation was still ongoing.

Meanwhile, another drug surrendereer and graduate of Sipag program was collared in a buy-bust operation in Sariaya town on Thursday afternoon.

Anti-illegal drugs operatives arrested Herminigildo Masilang, 44, a truck driver, after he sold P500 worth of “shabu” (crystal meth) to an undercover police officer in Barangay Mamala./lzb