75 year old famer shot dead, accused of peddling drugs

75 year old famer shot dead, accused of peddling drugs

MANILA, Philippines – Five days after a suspected drug pusher and her brother-in-law were killed by gunmen in front of her three children in Talavera, Nueva Ecija, another suspected drug pusher was shot dead in Zamboanga City yesterday.

The victim was identified as Efren Macalintal, 75, of Barangay Baliwasan, Zamboanga City. Efren was a corn farmer according to his grandson who was with him when two armed men shot his grandfather.

Efren died from two gunshot wounds in the head.

The attack took place at around 11 a.m. Sunday at Purok 2 in Baliwasan. Efren and his grandson Daryl were on their way in Zamboanga Public Market to buy some corn seedlings when two unidentified gunmen shot Efren twice in the head while Daryl run for cover.

The suspects fled aboard a motorcycle shouting “Bawal ang bentahan ng droga dito sa Zamboanga!” (Selling drugs is prohibited here in Zamboanga)

Efren Macalintal was rushed to a nearby hospital but where pronounced dead.

A team from the Scene of the Crime Operatives (SOCO) led by Chief Inspector Rissa Aricayos recovered empty shells from caliber 45 revolvers.

Daryl Macalintal have expressed his anger over the assailants saying, “Hindi nagbebenta ng droga ang Tatay Efren ko, nagsasaka lang kami ng mais, ba’t nyo pinatay ang lolo ko?” (My grandfather is not selling drugs, he’s only a farmer, why did you kill him?)

Bystanders on the crime scene have recorded a video after Efren Macalintal was killed.