Divino’s death linked to illegal drugs transaction
Philippine Drug Enforcement Agency (PDEA) OIC regional director Paul Ledesma attributed the death of Ronnie Divino to illegal drugs trade. He suspects that it is a case of a failed drug dealings or a transaction that went wrong.
Divino died Friday after he was gunned down by unidentified suspects at Zone 2 Barangay Bakhaw, Mandurriao. He was accompanied by a 15-year old boy in what was supposed to be a “transaction” in Bakhaw. The teenager was prevented from entering the house where the victim and his contact met.
Accordingly, the people whom Divino would meet were already inside the house whose owner has yet to be identified by the police. The gate, door and windows of the house were closed. The victim’s companion did not saw who was with Divino before he was peppered with bullets. He tried to escape but did not make it.
Divino, who is from Jereos, La Paz proceeded to Bakhaw after they met someone from Mission Road Extension, Jaro. He was having his lunch when he received a text message from an unidentified person for a transaction. It appears Divino’s murder was planned.
Ledesma, in an interview with Aksyon Radyo Iloilo few hours after the incident clarified Divino is not an asset of the agency but merely an informant. He said PDEA does not maintain assets in its drug operation. They only came to know about Divino when the latter sent a text message to the text line of the agency regarding the proliferation of illegal drugs. The information provided by Divino resulted to the arrest of two persons in Jaro district.
Ledesma said a person may become an informant but not necessarily an asset. An informant is the one who only shares information. An asset is a person utilized and whose information is valuable and contributes to the success of the mission or operation.
Ledesma confirmed Divino has once provided them useful information that led to the arrest of two suspected pushers in Jaro. After the successful operation, the agency has no idea on Divino’s dealings after the drug operation. The agency is appreciative of the information given by Divino but the PDEA has no “special relations” with the victim.
There are number of suspected pushers who provide information to the agency out of business rivalry. They want to eliminate their competition. The agency has taken actions on whatever information has reached the office regardless on whose group is an advantage, said Ledesma.