By Dominique Gabriel G. Bañaga

The suspected leader of the Manguntawar Drug Group was killed Thursday afternoon by riding-in-tandem suspects in San Carlos City, Negros Occidental.

Police identified the fatality as 51-year-old Abdul Halim Manguntawar, a resident of the city’s Barangay 5.

Investigations by San Carlos City police said the victim was in his home when an unidentified gunman opened fire, striking the victim several times across his body.

The gunman then boarded a waiting motorcycle and sped off with another motorcycle, which was later determined to have served as either backup or a lookout.

Manguntawar was rushed to the San Carlos Doctors’ Hospital, but he was declared dead on arrival by hospital staff.

Investigators recovered 10 empty .45 caliber shells from the crime scene.

In a radio interview, Police Regional Office-6 director, Police Brigadier General John Bulalacao, said Manguntawar was involved in drug distribution in San Carlos City and other localities across the Negros Occidental first congressional district.

Bulalacao also identified the victim as a “Level 3 High Value Drug Target.”

Police continue to investigate the incident./DGB, WDJ