The National Bureau of Investigation (NBI) has been tasked to step into the case of a barrio doctor who was gunned down in Lanao del Norte last Wednesday.
Justice Secretary Vitaliano Aguirre II has issued an order dated March 4, directing NBI Director Dante Gierran to “conduct investigation and case build-up over the death of Dr. Dreyfuss “Toto” Perlas who was shot dead in Lanao del Norte.”
“Further, Director Gierran shall submit a report to the Office of the Secretary of Justice on its current activities related to the implementation of this Order,” Aguirre added.
The 31-year-old victim was on board his motorcycle from a medical mission when he was approached by an unidentified man and shot him from behind, piercing his heart.
Police investigators remain clueless as to the motive behind the killing but health officials bared yesterday that the victim had been receiving death threats since last year.
“The family actually told us that Dr. Dreyfuss already informed them when he went home last December that he might opt to go for residency in Samal because of some threats,” Health Secretary Paulyn Jean Ubial said in an interview yesterday.
“December pa lang parang may ganoon nang ano (balita) ang family,” she added.
Perlas, a native of Aklan, graduated from West Visayas State University in 2011.
Perlas became a Doctor to the Barrios (DTTB) volunteer in 2012 and had even been nominated for the Bayani ng Kalusugan award for his dedication to his job and mission.
The Department of Health (DoH) , through its Regional Health Office, has been coordinating with the local authorities in Lanao del Norte in investigating Perlas’ death.
Governor Imelda Quibranza–Dimaporo has created a task force to lead the investigation and offered a cash reward to identify and arrest the perpetrators. (Jeffrey G. Damicog, Charina Clarisse L. Echaluce)
