A COUPLE was shot dead by two motorcycle-riding gunmen on Rabaya Street, Sitio Matinagdanon, Barangay Tabunok, Talisay City Sunday dawn, March 24.
The police are looking in the alleged illegal drug involvement of Carol Dixie Bacalso, 28, from Barangay Tanke who was killed with her live-in partner, Felix Yaris, 30, who hailed from Poblacion, Talisay City.
"Previously, we encountered reports from concerned citizen about Bacalso's alleged drug involvement. One of their neighbors also told us that the couple's wealth suddenly boomed even if they reportedly were jobless," Chief Inspector Ardeolito Cabagnot, deputy chief of the Talisay City police, said.
Cabagnot said that neighbors noticed the change of the victims' lifestyle in their place.
He added the gunmen fired at the victims past 3 a.m. when they were on their way home from the Cebu Planet Restobar.
"There are reports that illegal drug transactions are made inside the bar where the exchange of money and drugs are rampant. Bacalso is in our watchlist because we have information about her that we continuously validate prior to the incident," Cabagnot said.
Initial reports showed Bacalso was the target. Cabagnot added the gunmen went back to make sure the victims were already dead.
"She may have owe someone money because why would they purposely go every Friday and Saturday in the bar if they're from Tangke? She gets the item there and dispose the drugs in Tangke," Cabagnot said.
Investigators recovered six empty shells of caliber .45 pistol, three live bullets and a slug.
Another angle that the police are eyeing is personal grudge because Yaris reportedly beat up someone in the bar due to a lost cellphone.
"But we think it's a deeper motive so our investigation will lean more on illegal drugs," Cabagnot said. (JOB)