Another ‘narco cop’ slain; 2nd in 4 days

CEBU, Philippines — A policeman with alleged participation in the illegal drug trade was killed in Barangay Poblacion, Alegria town, about 120 kilometers south of Cebu City, becoming the second uniformed person to die from shooting in a span of just four days.

Police Officer 3 Jonathan Tilos, 36, was onboard his red Toyota Hilux and just came from a gym workout in Poblacion when an unidentified gunman shot him at Sitio Malbog at around 8 p.m. on Wednesday.

Alegria is located two towns away from Ginatilan, where Tilos was assigned.

The victim suffered several gunshot wounds in his body, including his head, which caused his death. The unknown gunman immediately fled the scene onboard a black vehicle.

Senior Superintendent Manuel Abrugena, director of Cebu Provincial Police Office, yesterday told reporters they have received reports that Tilos was among those on the government’s drug watch list.

He was allegedly connected to self-confessed Cebu-based drug lord Franz Sabalones.

“He was included doon po sa list ng government for illegal drugs. Ang tinutukoy po natin dito ay ang list ng gobyerno, may iba doon na kapitan, mayor. Exclusive sa illegal drugs. I cannot give details kung protector o involved lang sa peddling or using of illegal drugs. We have information na this officer is a friend of Franz Sabalones,” he said.

Abrugena further said Tilos also used to work as a security aide of former Cebu City mayor Michael Rama, who was named by President Duterte as a drug protector on at least two occasions.

Although police are not totally discounting the drug angle, they are, however, leaning towards personal grudge as the possible motive for the shooting.

Abrugena explained that Tilos was reportedly involved in heated argument with an unidentified person before going to the gym that night.

“Before daw pumasok ng gym ay may nakaalitan siya. Nagkaroon ng heated argument, altercation. After sa gym, papunta na sana sa sunod niyang pupuntahan, nabaril siya by unidentified gunman,” he said.

“We are giving more focus doon sa kanyang kaalitan. Dahil kung tutukan natin itong sa illegal drugs ay dapat nasa Mindanao siya (na-assign). Itong mga kapulisan natin dito, in terms of their involvement sa illegal drugs, either they are transferred to Mindanao or Luzon,” he added.

Alegria police are still conducting follow-up investigation for the possible identification and arrest of the suspect.

“Tinitingnan din natin na ang taong nakaalitan niya before ang pangyayari if kakilala na niya. It might be personal grudge. Iyung nakaalitan niya,” Abrugena said.

Before his assignment in Ginatilan as a member of the alert mobile patrol group, Tilos worked as part of the intelligence team of the CPPO.

Police Regional Office-7 Director Chief Superintendent Debold Sinas has already directed the local police to dig deeper into the case.

“Directive ni RD for us is to dig deeper sa pangyayari and identify the assailant and find out the motive,” said Abrugena.  Tilos’ death came just four days after Senior Inspector Raymon Hortezuela was killed in a joint buy-bust operation by the Counter-Intelligence Task Force, Regional Special Operations Group-7, and Drug Enforcement Unit of Mandaue City.

Hortezuela, 35, used to be the deputy chief of Cebu City’s Guadalupe Police Station before he was recently transferred to Negros Oriental amid revamps made prior to the May 14 barangay and SK elections.

Police have tagged Hortezuela as a protector of the slain alleged Cebu drug lord Jeffrey “Jaguar” Diaz, an accusation vehemently denied by his family.

Authorities have received reports that Tilos and Hortezuela were batchmates during their training into the police force. —  JMD (FREEMAN)