PDEA man out to pick up pregnant wife fatally shot in Escario

A former radio broadcaster turned employee of the Philippine Drug Enforcement Agency (PDEA) was shot dead by a lone gunman on Saturday night while he was on his way to pick up his pregnant wife at a gathering of journalists in Cebu City.

Jesus “Jessie” Tabanao, 35, was shot several times in the back by a still-unidentified assailant at 11:45 p.m. along Escario Street in barangay Camputhaw.

Tabanao, who was recently assigned to the PDEA unit in the Caraga region, was the agency’s spokesperson in Central Visayas.

Chief Insp. Romeo Santander, chief of the City Intelligence Branch (CIB) of the Cebu City Police Office (CCPO), said investigators were looking at different angles into the killing, including work-related issues and personal grudge.

He said Tabanao went to the PDEA regional office on R.R. Landon Street to pick up his belongings and was about to head for Fuente Osmeña. He was also supposed to pick up his wife, Katrina, at the Cebu I.T. Park in barangay Apas.

Santander, quoting witnesses, said Tabanao pulled over near Golden Peak Hotel on Escario Street and got out of his Mitsubishi Strada pickup. Moments later, a man got off his motorcycle on the opposite lane and crossed the street toward Tabanao and shot him several times at the back. The gunman returned to his motorcycle and fled.

Paramedics from the Emergency Rescue Unit Foundation (Eruf) said Tabanao was killed on the spot. The bullets that hit him in the back exited at the front of his body.

Police recovered eight spent shells, probably from a 9mm pistol, from the crime scene. They also found three cellular phones, two 9mm guns and over P46,000 cash from the victim’s possession. One of the guns was tucked in his waistband.

Press freedom bash

Newspaper reporter Jessa Marie Agua said she was with Tabanao’s wife, Katrina, at the Cebu I.T. Park for a late dinner to celebrate her coronation as this year’s Miss Press Freedom, in line with the week-long celebration of the Cebu Press Freedom Week.

Agua said Katrina was waiting for her husband and was starting to worry when he failed to respond to her text messages and calls.

Agua said Katrina then decided to board a taxi and look for her husband.

Katrina, who also used to be a print journalist, is due to give birth to a baby boy later this month. Katrina and Tabanao also have a seven-year-old son.

Source of information

PDEA Regional Director Lyndon Aspacio said that they were saddened with the tragic death of their colleague.

“Definitely, malaking kawalan ‘yung nangyari. Jessie is the agency PIO’s and we all know that the PIO is the best source of information in the battle against illegal drugs. We’re saddened and we condemn the shooting incident,” Aspacio told Cebu Daily News in a phone interview.

He said they are cooperating with the CCPO investigators and will provide all the necessary information that could result in the solution of the case.

Aspacio said they still could not establish whether or not the killing is work-related.

“Actually, as far as the reason, hindi pa rin ma-establish whether it is work-related or not. It’s too early to say unless we have the evidence to prove it to be so,” he explained. /Jhunnex Napallacan, Joy Cherry Quito and Michelle Joy L. Padayhag