Killing of PDEA agent condemned

CEBU CITY — The chief of the Philippine Drug Enforcement Agency (PDEA) condemned the killing of a PDEA agent here and vowed to spare nothing to solve the case.

PDEA Director General Aaron Aquino said the killing of Earl Rallos will not dampen the agency’s campaign against illegal drugs.

“We strongly condemn this cowardly action against PDEA agents who have been diligently working against the illegal drug operators. We will make sure that his death will not pass without worth as we will continue our fight against the illegal drugs industry,” said Aquino in a statement.

Rallos was ambushed by a still-unidentified assailant as he was driving home last Friday.

The 48-year-old Rallos was deputy director for operations of PDEA in Central Visayas. He was a radio reporter before joining the agency.

Rallos was driving a Toyota Altis sedan when a man fired shots at him. Although wounded, Rallos still managed to crawl out of the car but the gunman followed him and finished him off with shots to the head.

Responding personnel of the Scene of the Crime Operatives (SOCO) found three packs of suspected shabu in the glove compartment of Rallos’ car. Also found in the car were cash worth at least R20,000, a 9mm pistol, an M14 rifle, a caliber .45 pistol and a cellphone.

Chief Insp. Ma. Theresa Macatangay, chief of the Fuente Police Station, said the motive of the killing could be work-related.

Police will also investigate why there were packs of suspected shabu in the victim’s car, said Macatangay.

PDEA regional spokesperson Leia Albiar said on the day he was killed, Rallos learned he was due for promotion from agent one to agent three.

During the agency’s anniversary last June, Rallos was named Employee of the Year in a nationwide search.

He also received awards from the Cebu provincial government for spearheading anti-drug operations in the province.