BUTUAN
CITY: A policeman assigned in Santiago, Agusan Norte was shot dead by a lone gunman
at P-5 Poblacion 1, Saturday afternoon, police said.
PNP
investigator PO2 Fredjun Martinez
identified the victim as PO2 Garyl Rey Handayan Cortez, 34.
PO2
Martinez said Cortez was conducting a follow up investigation of an illegal
drug case in the area involving an alleged big-time pusher when an unidentified
gunman shot him point blank in his face.
Police
said Cortez arrested last Thursday a suspected shabu pusher in the same area
where he was shot dead.
Police
chief P/Insp. Ernesto Pelano said they are looking for the gunman who is said
to be riding an unlicensed motorcycle at the time of the shooting.
The
municipality of Santiago has been blacklisted by the PNP as “rampant” in terms
of illegal drugs proliferation.
A
group calling themselves Crusade Against Rampant Proliferation of Illegal Drugs
and other Illegalities (CARPIDI) alleged that a former town official and an
incumbent including his sons are the drug lords in the area.
The
PNP said Cortez was the third policeman in Caraga felled by suspected illegal
drug operators in the region. (WITH REPORTS BY BEN SERRANO)