CEBU (Updated) -- An agent of the Philippine Drug Enforcement Authority (PDEA) was shot dead on Villalon St., Cebu City, Friday afternoon, July 27.
The victim was identified as Earl Rallos, assistant operations officer of PDEA in Cebu, the police spot report stated. He was declared dead on the spot, as he sustained multiple gunshot wounds.
According to Chief Insp. Maria Theresa Macatangay, chief of the Abellana Police Station, investigators are looking into the possibility that the attack was connected to Rallos’ work as assistant chief operations officer of the Philippine Drug Enforcement Agency (PDEA) 7.
“We have to coordinate with their office because some people may have been angry with him, in the course of the performance of his duty. Kusog na nga anggulo nga atong gitan-aw (That’s one of the most pronounced angles we are checking),” Macatangay said.
Rallos was on his way home from work when a gunman, who witnesses said walked beside his Toyota Altis, initially fired at the driver’s seat at 5:10 p.m.
Samuel Lano, one of the barangay tanods of Capitol Site, said that he was manning traffic in the area when he heard multiple gunshots.
“When the cars gave way, I saw him slumped on the ground,” he said.
A stray bullet reportedly hit a motorcycle driver who was beside Rallos’ vehicle at that time.
Another eyewitness said that Rallos managed to get out of his car through the passenger door but the gunman pursued him.
The assailant then repeatedly shot Rallos and walked to a waiting motorcycle, a witness said.
Rallos, who reportedly kept with him a 9mm and a .45, wasn’t able to retaliate, police said.
Rallos’ wife was also rushed to an ambulance after she saw her husband.
“Buotan man na si Earl! (Earl is a good man!),” she wailed.
Found in the crime scene were 18 empty shells and two slugs from a .45 pistol.
Investigators are also searching for closed-circuit television (CCTV) cameras that may have captured the ambush on Rallos.
Rallos, who was once a broadcaster, entered the PDEA together with former PDEA 7 spokesperson Jesus “Jessie” Tabanao. Rallos was once affiliated with Bombo Radyo Cebu and dySS during this years in the media industry.
Tabanao was also shot and killed last Sept. 14, 2013 on Escario St., less than a kilometer from where Rallos died. (SunStar Philippines)