Probers eye illegal drug trade in shooting

INVESTIGATORS are eyeing illegal drug trade as the main motive in the shooting incident that killed a high school student and injured one person Wednesday night at Riverwall in Barangay Puntod, Cagayan de Oro City.

Police Chief Inspector Norberto Zafra, station commander of Macabalan Police Station, identified the victims as Wilfredro Cutamora, 16, and Benjamin A. Pajente, 37, both residents of Riverwall, Block 4 in Barangay Puntod.

The victims were rushed to the Northern Mindanao Medical Center (NMMC) but attending physicians declared Cutamora dead on arrival as he succumbed to a gunshot wound in the nape.

Pajente sustained a gunshot wound in the hand and is now out of danger, according to the police.

“It appears that Pajente was the target and the student was just mixed up in the incident,” Zafra said.

Police initial investigation revealed that two of the four men armed with short firearms entered the house of the victims around 10 p.m. and looked for Pajente.

The two armed men, who reportedly wore bonnets, then shot Pajente and Cutamora.

The two suspects fled away on board two motorcycles driven by their two companions.

Police records showed that Pajente was involved in illegal drug trade in the area and was already arrested by operatives of Police Station 5 for violation of Republic Act 9165 or the Comprehensive Dangerous Drugs Act of 2002.

Aside from illegal drug trade, Pajente was once arrested for robbery.

“Pajente just got out of prison and his name is still involved in the selling of illegal drugs,” Zafra said in an interview over dxIF-Bombo Radyo.

Investigators are still looking into the incident to track down the four gunmen and to determine the real motive. (Annabelle L. Ricalde)