CamSur village chief involved in antidrug drive shot dead

CALABANGA, Camarines Sur—A village chief  known for his involvement in his community’s antidrug campaign died in a hospital in Naga City early Thursday after he was shot by a lone gunman outside his house in Barangay (village) Salvacion Baybay here on Wednesday night, police said.

Chief Insp. Ace Mendoza, Calabanga police chief, said Jose Ipo, village chief of Salvacion, died while undergoing treatment at the Mother Seton Hospital hours after he was attacked at past 8 p.m. on Wednesday.

Mendoza did not discount the possibility that Ipo was killed because of his role in the antidrug campaign in his village.

A witness, who asked not to be named for security reasons, said he saw a man approach Ipo and shoot him while he was sitting in front of their house.

He said Ipo was able to run after the first shot but the assassin chased him and fired three more shots until he fell to the ground. The witness said the gunman fled on a motorcycle driven by another man.

On Tuesday, a suspected drug pusher died after a shootout with policemen in a drug bust in Iriga City.

Senior Supt. Walfredo Pornillos, Camarines Sur provincial police director, said Nicolas Morallo Jr. drew his gun when he sensed he was dealing with undercover policemen during a sting operation in his house in San Antonio Subdivision in Barangay San Roque, Iriga. This prompted policemen to engage him in a firefight.

Morallo died while being taken to the Lourdes Hospital in Iriga City./rga

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