5 men killed in Malubog had links to drugs: CCPO

Police probe found mobile phones with messages on illegal drug transactions; one of the guns recovered was owned by a public official

One of the firearms in the crime scene where five bodies were found in Barangay Malubog, Cebu City, in the first week of October this year is owned by a public official.

But the Cebu City Police Office (CCPO) is yet to verify this with the Firearms and Explosives Security and Guard Supervision (FESAFS) in Camp Crame.

The Special Investigation Task Group (SITG) also confirmed that the dead persons, as well as those who survived, were involved in illegal drugs.

CCPO Director Royina Garma said investigators from the Police Regional Office (PRO) 7 found that a firearm in the crime scene belongs to a public official based on the serial number.

Garma said they are not yet revealing the name and agency of the official.

However, she said, the firearm fell into the hands of another person during an incident in Talisay City last month.

The PNP Cyber Crime Group’s forensic examination on the mobile phones of the dead persons showed text messages concerning illegal drug transactions, although the police did not reveal further details.

The police said this proves that the death of the five persons had something to do with illegal drugs and the information will help them locate the suspects.

“What appears is the possibility of drug transactions in all of the mobile phones. The biggest transaction reached about P500,000,” said Garma.

Investigators also found that the dead persons were contacts, including survivors Sharmaine Poran and Antonio Belande.

The police suspects that the persons knew who brought them to Barangay Malubog as the text messag- es would show. They were sending text messages to the persons they were dealing with, who are also now subjects of an investigation.

Poran and Belande may be persons of interest, said the police, but that doesn’t mean they are the suspects.

Garma said the two survivors may be able to supply relevant information that will point to the suspects.

One of the bodies was positive of gun powder residue, a paraffin test of the PNP Crime Laboratory showed.

Garma did not name which body though pending a more thorough investigation.