Another drug personality was found dead by local residents late Thursday night at Purok Rose in Bacolod City’s Barangay Cabug. Police identified the fatality as Virgilio Lopez, Jr., a resident of Silay City’s Barangay Guinhalaran.
Based on initial investigations carried out by Police Station 9 (PS9), they received a call around 10:30 p.m. informing them a dead body was found in the area. Authorities immediately proceeded to the area and found the remains with several gunshot wounds to the head.
The remains were also found with a placard reading: “Gud bye shabu welcum heaven or hell HVT ako.”
A sachet of suspected shabu was also attached to the placard.
PS9 commander, Police Lieutenant Jonito Pastrana, said they also interviewed residents living in the area who confirmed hearing gunshots in the area prior to the discovery.
Investigators also recovered several empty cartridges of an unknown caliber firearm from the crime scene.
The victim was later identified yesterday morning when the Lopez’ mother visited PS9.
According to the mother, Lopez had been receiving death threats for the past few months and was wounded in a shooting incident last year, noting, the incident was due to a drug deal gone wrong.
She added, Lopez also served as a police asset.
Meanwhile, additional background checks on Lopez revealed he was “well-known” in Barangay Banago’s Sitio Sibucao, which has been classified as a “hard-hit area” for illegal drugs.
He is the latest drug personality killed in Bacolod City this year, following the earlier deaths of two other drug offenders.
Police are now carrying out follow-up investigations into the murder./DGB, WDJ