By Dominique Gabriel G. Bañaga

An individual reported to be an asset for the Philippine Drug Enforcement Agency (PDEA) was gunned down yesterday morning in Barangay 8, Bacolod City.

Police identified the fatality as 29-year-old Reynaldo Pescadeno, Jr., a resident of Barangay Vista Alegre, Bacolod City.

Investigations by Police Station 2 (PS2) said, around 2:00 a.m., Pescadeno was sitting by the road along Narra Baybay, when two men, wearing bonnets and riding a blue sport utility vehicle, stopped and opened fire using .45 caliber firearms,

The victim was struck in the chest and legs.

The suspects sped off while local residents rushed Pescadeno to the Corazon Locsin Montelibano Memorial Regional Hospital.

However, the victim later succumbed to his wounds.

PS2 commander, Police Chief Inspector Benedicto Villarias, revealed the victim’s mobile phone records showed messages regarding drug transactions, where Pescadeno was likely operating as a courier.

The police official believes the shooting was likely connected to a drug deal that had gone bad.

He added, the suspects may have discovered Pescadeno was a PDEA asset./DGB, WDJ