THE 10th top drug personality under the watchlist of Negros Occidental Police Provincial Office (Nocppo) was gunned down by six unidentified men on board a private vehicle at Barangay Lalong, Calatrava town on January 1.
Police identified the fatality as Principles Vicera, 36, of Sitio Tinuyuhan, Barangay Marcelo. He was also the number one drug suspect under the town's drugs target list.
Chief Inspector John Joel Batusbatusan, head of Calatrava Municipal Police Station, said Vicera was going to a cock derby when the assailants on board a van fired at him, and he even fired back.
Batusbatusan said they have yet to establish the motive, but they are looking into three possibilities.
It might have been triggered by grudge or vengeance, or could be related to illegal drugs, he added.
Batusbatusan said Vicera was also involved in a series of robbery and hold-up incidents in the town.
He added that the police was supposed to serve him an arrest warrant for murder after he killed someone three months ago, and he was also reported by his sibling for threat.
Batusbatusan said Vicera was also being monitored by the Philippine National Police headquarters due to his involvement in illegal drugs and other crimes.