By CYRUS M. GARDE
BACOLOD City — Did the alleged drug dealer killed in Escalante City double-cross a fellow suspected pusher?
Police suspect that Manuel Lim was shot to death because he betrayed someone, Escalante City police chief Superintendent Leo Batiles said, citing text messages in the victim’s mobile phone.
Lim, 41, of Barangay Old Poblacion, Escalante City was peddling illegal drugs in their village, police claimed.
In fact, he was on the Escalante police’s watch list of suspected drug pushers. Policemen raided his house last month, but he eluded arrest.
Batiles did not elaborate on their suspicion.
On Wednesday, Lim had just won at a cockfight in Barangay Cervantes when he suddenly left the stadium onboard his motorcycle.
A bonnet-wearing man, also driving a motorcycle, followed and fired at him. Lim was hit on the chest but managed to speed away to avoid his assailant.
When Lim reached Crossing Aya, he lost control of his motorcycle, skidded and fell to the ground.
He stood up and shouted for help, but his attacker caught up with him and shot him twice in the head point-blank. It was about 5:35 p.m.
The suspect, still unidentified as of press time, took more than P100,000 from Lim’s pocket and fled toward the city proper, police said.
Some people who also betted at the cockfight told the police that they lost P30,000 to Lim.
Investigation on the case continues./PN
