Barangay officer helping anti-drugs drive shot dead in QC

Murder by shooting (INQUIRER FILE PHOTO/FRINSTON LIM)

MANILA — A barangay (village) security officer helping out the police in its anti-drugs operation was shot dead on Thursday by two unidentified motorcycle-riding gunmen near his house in Quezon City.

Aaron Deloria died eight hours after he was gunned down by hitmen near his house along Niñada Street, Litex in Barangay Commonwealth at around 8:20 a.m.

Supt. Lito Patay, chief of the Batasan police station, said that they have been investigating the motive in the killing of the 32-year-old security officer but noted that he has “contributed a lot” in the police campaign to stamp out illegal drugs in the city.

According to a report filed at the Quezon City Police District, Deloria was on his way home when the gunmen who were trailing him fired twice at him. The victim fell from his motorcycle after he was shot in the abdomen and wrist.

Deloria’s live-in-partner Esmeralda Antido, who witnessed the shooting, told police that the hitmen headed toward Everlasting Street in Payatas, but she wasn’t able to note the license plate of the red motorcycle the killers used.

Antido and her neighbors were able to bring Deloria to the hospital, where he died hours later. Police are currently conducting follow-up operations to identify the shooters.  SFM