'DRUG WAR' EYED IN COUPLE'S DEATH

POLICE blamed infighting among five drug syndicates for the deaths of a man
and his wife early Sunday evening allegedly by a hired killer at Oracion
Subdivision in Looc Village.

Dumaguete City chief of police Supt. Constantino Barot Jr. believed the
murder of Jerry Palubio, 55 and his wife Josephine, 52, was part of the
syndicates' effort to control the drug operation in Dumaguete City.

Barot confirmed that Palubio is included in the police watchlist of known
major illegal drug financiers, along with four other syndicates operating
in Dumaguete City.

The police chief, however, refused to name the other four drug lords saying
his men are monitoring their movement.

The killing, he said, would mean eliminating competition for the drug market.

Barot said the incident is similar to the death of Moloy Tano, which was
welcomed by many due to competition in the drug market.

Barot said the "drug lords" including Palubio had earlier been charged for
drug trafficking in court, but the cases were dropped because of
technicalities.

The police chief who once headed the provincial PNP intelligence section
before his assignment in Dumaguete City, raided the house of Palubio
several years ago and confiscated about 190 grams of shabu.

Follow-up raids, he said, failed to yield evidence against the drug
suspects who already learned to conceal their activities.

The PNP official said it was also possible, based on another police
intelligence report, that Palubio was ordered slain by his "big boss" for
failing to remit the sales from illegal drugs.

Palubio died due to gunshot wounds on his abdomen and chest at the Silliman
University Medical Center.

His wife who also suffered gunshot wounds on her chest was already dead
when she was rushed to the hospital.

The Palubio couple was on board a Yamaha Crypton and driving along the
corner of Oracion Drive and Flores Avenue when the helmeted gunman and a
companion driving a Honda XLR attacked them.

Before escaping, the suspects stopped by the sprawled figures and again
fired on them several times.

Police investigators recovered seven empty shells from a .45 caliber pistol
and one slug from the crime scene.