By Dominique Gabriel G. Bañaga

An suspected member of the notorious Ramos Drug Group, which operates in southern Negros Occidental, was gunned down yesterday by riding-in-tandem suspects at a reclamation area in Barangay 1, Hinigaran.

Police identified the fatality as 34-year-old Samson Panega, a resident of Sitio Tugbungan, Barangay 2 in the said municipality.

Hinigaran municipal police chief, Police Chief Inspector Jake Barila, said Panega was operating a tricycle and was picking up passengers when two men aboard a motorcycle stopped at the rear of the victim’s vehicle and opened fire.

Barila said, based on investigations, Panega had reportedly been in hiding for two weeks due to supposed drug group colleagues doubting him after several fellow members were earlier arrested.

Panega is also tagged as the Top Level 2 drug personality in the town.

Police recovered three empty .45 caliber shells, a .45 caliber slug, and a live .45 caliber bullet.

Hinigaran police are presently investigating the incident./DGB, WDJ