Thursday, August 28, 2008 Police looking into conflict among drug traders as angle in Kamagayan killing By Jovy S. Taghoy Sun.Star Staff Reporter
A TURF WAR in the illegal drug trade is the main angle police investigators are checking in the shooting in Barangay Kamagayan, Cebu City last Tuesday night that killed one man and injured another.
Both Cebu City Police Office (CCPO) Director Patrocinio Comendador and Supt. Pablo Labra II, in separate interviews, said they are verifying reports about a conflict between two drug personalities in Kamagayan.
The officials said that Esteban Albeos and Allan Catalan were among those people suspected to be involved in the illegal drug trade, not only in Kamagayan but in other areas in the city as well.
Albeos died on the spot, while Catalan was injured when a gunman on a motorcycle driven by a cohort shot them past 6 p.m. along Cabatingan St., a barangay road.
Complaint
Albeos had earlier filed a complaint against some personnel of the Parian Police Station for allegedly trying to extort money from his family.
This allegedly happened after the arrest of his mother Gloria for a drug-related violation last month. The complaint was filed before the Office of the Ombudsman–Visayas.
Catalan, on the other hand, was arrested by the Criminal Investigation and Intelligence Bureau in a drug raid in 2006.
Comendador said he directed Senior Insp. Mario Monilar, chief of the Homicide Section, to invite the relatives of Albeos and Catalan to help in the investigation.
The police will also need Catalan’s help in the investigation so they can identify those behind the attack.
The investigation will also include determining “who controls the (drug) market” in Kamagayan and the alleged competitors of Catalan.
Judging by the trajectory of the slugs that hit the Honda CRV (GSM 201) Albeos and Catalan were riding, Comendador said the shooting was not accidental and both victims were the targets of the attack. Albeos drove, while Catalan occupied the front seat.
The Homicide Section submitted a request to the PNP Crime Laboratory 7 to conduct a paraffin test on Albeos and Catalan to verify reports that one of them fired back.
Comendador described as “a remote possibility” the speculation that law enforcers were behind the attack, but added this will be included in the investigation.
The Parian policemen named by Albeos in his complaint were among those who responded after receiving the shooting alarm, Comendador added.
Vendor shot
Meanwhile, a 38-year-old female ambulant vendor was shot in the head in Sitio Lower Lumar, Barangay T. Padilla, Cebu City shortly before 1 p.m. yesterday.
Jocelyn V. Reyes, who sells fashion accessories, was taken to Cebu City Medical Center. As of 4:30 p.m. yesterday, Reyes was still under observation.
SPO4 Alex Dacua of the Homicide Section, who investigated the incident, said they have gathered unverified information that the killing may be drug-related.
Dacua, however, said he could not yet discuss the motive further because he still needs to gather evidence.
Reyes was walking in the area to collect payments from her clients when an unidentified man shot her.
Insp. Rex Campos of the Mobile Patrol Group, the first to arrive in the area in a patrol car, rushed Reyes to the city hospital.
