ILOILO City – A “high-value” drug target was killed after four motorcycle-riding suspects gunned him down on Mabini Street in City Proper yesterday.
The 40-year-old Lhuil Clemente of Barangay East Baluarte, Molo died of gunshot wounds on the head and body, a police report showed.
Clemente was driving a motorcycle on his way to the Iloilo Terminal Market when the gunmen on board two motorcycles peppered him with bullets around 12 p.m. on March 2, said Senior Inspector Victor Bacinillo, deputy commander of Iloilo City Police Station 1.
The suspects continued firing at Clemente until he fell off his motorcycle. They then fled via Leon Street.
“As of now, we could not identify the four suspects. We have to look for witnesses who could give us information about them. The shooting was done in a broad daylight,” said Barcinillo.
Five empty shells of a .45-caliber pistol were recovered from the crime scene.
Clemente was brought to the Iloilo Doctor’s Hospital where he expired.
The police were looking into illegal drugs and grudge as motive in the incident.
Meanwhile, Molo police station commander Chief Inspector Engelbert Banquillo said the victim was a surrenderee of the Philippine National Police “Oplan Tokhang.”
Clemente turned himself in two years ago as member of the Odicta drug group, Banquillo added.
He also said the Clemente was undergoing rehabilitation at the Police Regional Office 6./PN
