Drugs were behind the killing of two Chinese nationals last week, as one of them was identified as the asset of former anti-drug agent Marine Lt. Col. Ferdinand Marcelino, police said Monday.
The drug asset, Yan Yi Shou and his companion Wu Huai Hong, had pending cases with the Manila Police District for direct assault, alarm and scandal, resisting arrest, and drunk and disorderly conduct, and both were freed after posting bail on Aug. 17. A day later, both were killed by unidentified gunmen riding a motorcycle.
MPD homicide chief Sr. Inspector Rommel Anicete said the two were walking along Taft Avenue in Manila when one of the suspects onboard a black Yamaha Mio approached and shot them several times at close range.
One was wearing a black jacket and a black helmet, while the other had a white and blue jacket with a white helmet on.
Two bystanders were hit by stray bullets, but are now recuperating in hospital.
Marcelino, former head of the Special Enforcement Service of the Philippine Drug Enforcement Agency, was released from detention last year after the Department of Justice dropped the P380-million drug charges against him and his Chinese asset Yan, a former interpreter for PDEA.
Marcelino and Yan were arrested during a raid at a suspected shabu laboratory in Sta. Cruz, Manila in Jan. 21, 2016 and were found with 77 kilos of shabu.
Also on Monday, the Quezon City Police District arrested two suspected drug dealers and seized 15 kilos of dried marijuana leaves along Bonifacio Drive in Balintawak.
The suspects were identified as Francis Marie Nepomuceno and his driver, Michael Gontinias. With Rio N. Araja