PDEA agent shot dead

CEBU, Philippines - An agent of the Philippine Drug Enforcement Agency (PDEA) was gunned down by an unidentified assailant along Escario St., Cebu City shortly before midnight last Saturday.

Jesus "Jessie" Tabanao, 35, was shot five times in the back. PNP medico legal officer Felino Bronia said the gunshot wounds were fatal since the bullets pierced Tabanao's heart, lung and spine.

Tabanao was a former information officer of PDEA 7. Effective September 1, he was reassigned to the Caraga region, holding the same position. He was a former reporter for Bombo Radyo Cebu and was currently an anchor for a radio program over radio dyRC.

According to the Homicide Section investigation, Tabanao was on his way to fetch his wife, Katrina, who is eight months pregnant, at the I.T. Park when he was shot by a lone gunman.

At the crime scene, Tabanao slumped dead in a supine position near the passenger's side of his white Mitsubishi Strada with Plate No. YFY 911.

Chief Insp. Romeo Santander, chief of the City Intelligence Branch, said it appears that Tabanao stopped at Escario Street to get something at the back of his vehicle when he was shot.

Among those recovered from Tabanao's vehicle was a bullet proof vest, which the police believe might be the item that Tabano was getting during the time he was shot.

A male witness, whose name The Freeman is withholding for security reasons, said he was about to go home from work when he saw a man on a motorcycle stop at the lane opposite Tabanao's vehicle.

The man, he said, then immediately disembarked from the motorcycle and walked fast toward Tabanao, who was facing the other way. The man then shot Tabanao at the back several times, boarded his motorcycle and sped off toward Golden Peak Hotel.

Police later recovered eight empty shells, reportedly from a 9mm firearm, from the crime scene.

Bullet holes were found on the right front door of Tabanao's vehicle, as well as on the roll up doors of a nearby restaurant.

Santander said the motive behind the shooting could be work-related or a personal grudge against Tabanao.

"Labi na kay PDEA agent siya, naay involved na mga pushers and druglords, basin naa'y naglagot niya na mga nadakpan siguro niya sauna," the CIB chief said.

Santander added the police will also be checking if a security camera is installed in one of the establishments around the crime scene that might have captured the incident.

Three cellular phones were found among Tabanao's things and Santander said these will be turned over to the Anti-Cybercrime Group to check for substantial information that may help determine the motive of the attack on the PDEA agent.

Santander said CIB, Homicide Section, and the Investigation and Detective Management Branch are handling the case, with orders from Cebu City Police Office Nilo Romana to immediately solve it.

PDEA 7 director Lyndon Aspacio said the agency will also conduct a parallel investigation.

Asked for the possible motive behind the crime, Aspacio said they will wait for the result from CCPO, being the lead investigators.

"It's too early to make conclusions sa posibleng motive bakit siya binaril," he said,adding that Tabanao also has not mentioned of any potential foe despite the nature of their job. Apart from the being an information officer, Tabanao also participates in anti-drug operations.

"Wala siyang nabanggit na may kaaway, pero hindi maiiwasan may magagalit sa'yo dahil sa iyong trabaho," Aspacio said.

He said PDEA 7 and PDEA-Caraga will support the family of Tabanao. In fact, two PDEA personnel helped Tabanao's wife in processing the needed papers yesterday.

Tabanao's wife Katrina, who is due to deliver their second son next month, couldn't believe her husband is already dead.

At the crime scene, the former Provincial Capitol employee and former journalist just stared at her husband's body.

"Di ko katuo. Abi ko'g di tinuod," said Katrina, who finally let her emotions out in an interview with reporters last night at her husband's wake at the St. Peter's Memorial Chapel.

Recalling Saturday night's events, she said it was as if her husband was saving her from imminent danger.

"He was trying to save me. Ang iyang mga text nako gabii, tambay, tambay," she said, adding that her husband knew someone was tailing him.

Katrina was at the I.T Park that night celebrating the victory of her friend, The Freeman's Jessa Chrisna Marie Agua, who was crowned Miss Press Freedom. Tabanao was supposed to fetch her after.

"Last niyang text sa ako kay 'K' then sa I.T. Park, ako na lang siya giingnan na 'Gang, ako na lang anha nimo sa PDEA office.' Wa na siya ni reply," she narrated.

On the way to PDEA office, her companion in the taxicab, who was browsing on Facebook, saw the breaking news about Tabanao's death. 

Katrina said she didn't know of any threat on her husband. "Di man siya maghisgot bahin sa trabaho kay confidential man," she said.

Tabanao, she said, came from Butuan last Friday and was supposed to return to his new assignment area at 2 pm today.

"Wa man mi naanad magkalayo. Mu-leave gani unta siya kay manganakay lagi ko," she said.

"I hope makatog ka knowing akong anak duha kabuok imo gikuhaan og amahan, ug mura bitaw akong whole life imong gikuha," said Katrina, as she broke down to tears.

Tabano's remains will be brought to their home in Lawaan, Talisay City before it will be laid to rest in his hometown in Moalboal on Sept. 28.

Meanwhile, the Cebu Federation of Beat Journalists (CFBJ) condemned the killing of Tabanao, who was a former colleague in the media.

The CFBJ, led by its president, Elias Baquero, also called on authorities to expedite the investigation. — with Gregg M. Rubio/QSB