Pagadian City police personnel probe the crime scene after suspected car theft leader Palabrica “Janjan” Paulin was shot dead Wednesday afternoon on Urro Street in Balangasan District.
PAGADIAN CITY, Zamboanga del Sur, Philippines — The suspected mastermind behind a series of car thefts in this capital city was shot to death Wednesday afternoon by still unidentified assailants.
Lt. Col. Gilzen Niño Manese, city police chief, identified the victim as Palabrica ”Janjan” Paulin, a resident of San Pedro District.
Paulin was arrested last May 12 while driving a motorcycle that was reported earlier to have been missing and suspected to be stolen. He was out on a P200,000 bail.
Prior to the May 12 incident, he was jailed after being linked to a string of car theft cases. But he was freed after posting bail.
Manese said Paulin even had complainants negotiated into dropping charges against him.
On Wednesday afternoon, he was driving a dark gray Toyota Wigo when stopped on Urro Street in Balangasan District. He got off and opened the car’s tailgate. At this point, he was shot by two motorcycle-riding gunmen.
Paulin died on the spot.
Manese said they were looking into the possibility Paulin was attacked by his cohorts in the illegal trade.