PDEA Agent’s Death Related to Work, Police Says

Police authorities strongly believed that Philippine Drug Enforcement Agency (PDEA) Agent Jesus “Jessie” Tabanao was killed by an unidentified assailant on Saturday night because of his work.

The investigators of the Cebu City police homicide section are planning to submit Tabanao’s three mobile phones to the Anti-Cybercrime Group (ACG) hoping that it can help identify the persons behind the killing.

Tabanao used to be the spokesman of the Cebu-based PDEA-7 regional office, but he was transferred to the Caraga Region in northern Mindanao last September 1.

The autopsy report showed that the 35-year old Tabanao was shot several times and some of the bullets hit his heart, lungs and spine causing him to die on the spot beside his Mitsubishi Strada vehicle along Escario Street.

Reports said after buying medicines from a drugstore at Fuente Osmeña, Tabanao was proceeding to IT Park in Barangay Lahug to fetch his pregnant wife Katrina, who had a get together with her friends.

But it was not known why Tabanao stopped his vehicle along Escario Street. A witness said the gunman who disembarked from a motorcycle quickly shot Tabanao several times.

Authorities said Tabanao had two 9 mm. pistols with him that time, but failed to use them to defend himself from his attacker.

The PDEA Agent used to be a reporter of Bombo Radyo in Cebu City before he was hired as member of the government’s anti-drug agency.

Cebu City police director Noli Romana said a special team of investigators has been created to track down the suspect while the PDEA will also conduct a separate investigation.

A security guard narrated that the suspect who wore a full-face helmet approached Tabanao from behind and shot the victim on his back after Tabanao went out of his white Mitsubishi Strada possibly to get something from the back of the vehicle.

City Intelligence chief Romeo Santandersaid they are considering work-related issues in the case because as a law enforcement agent some people might get angry after being caught or stopped in their illegal drug trade.