CEBU CITY – The local police has gathered reports that drug personalities in Cebu are now killing each other due to botched illegal drug trade or as retaliation.
Cebu City Police Office (CCPO) director Senior Supt. Joel Doria said it could be possible that some of the killings that occurred in Cebu City were not initiated by supposed vigilante members but by fellow drug offenders themselves.
Citing an example, Doria said one Michael Lendio was shot dead during his birthday by two gunmen in Barangay San Nicolas Proper, Monday night. Lendio was the main suspect in the murder of Annalou Llaguno, reportedly the former wife of suspected Leyte drug lord Kerwin Espinosa.
On Tuesday night, one Richard Ongoy was shot dead in C. Padilla by still unidentified assailant. Ongoy was allegedly one of those who shot dead Lendio.
Meanwhile, the police filed criminal charges against the 15-year-old boy who allegedly tried to shoot it out with policemen during an operation in Barangay Guadalupe last week and during which the boy was shot in the back.
The two drug suspects arrested at that time have also been charged, said Chief Insp. Christopher Lucas Navida, chief of the intelligence branch of the Cebu City Police Office.
Navida said the minor is facing charges for illegal gambling, illegal possession of firearms, and attempted suicide.
He was allegedly caught playing “tong-its” and allegedly tried to shoot it out with authorities using a caliber .45 pistol. He also allegedly dropped packs of suspected shabu during a chase with policemen. (Mars W. Mosqueda, Jr.)