Gun used in 19 drug-related killings traced to slain QC volunteer tanod

A gun used in the killing of a barangay tanod in Barangay Commonwealth in Quezon City in July 2016 was the same one used in 18 more drug-related killings, GMA News' Cesar Apolinario reported on 24 Oras on Friday.

The exclusive report said the gun was among the firearms recovered by the police from five slain drug suspects, all of them volunteer barangay tanods, during a buy-bust operation in Barangay Commonwealth in December 2016.

"Nagkaroon ng magandang lead dahil nag-match 'yung baril na nakuha through ballistics examination," said Chief Superintendent Guillermo Eleazar, director of the Quezon City Police District.

"In this particular case... 'yung palang isang volunteer na barangay tanod eh all the while siya 'yung responsible dun sa mga series ng killings."

The police said based on investigation, the five were "protectors" of illegal drug operations in Barangays Commonwealth and Payatas.

Critics blame the high number of drug-related killings — or "deaths under investigation" (DUI) as the police call them — to President Rodrigo Duterte's war on illegal drugs.

Numbering in the thousands, these DUIs do not include the thousands more drug suspects killed during police operations since July last year.

According to the QCPD, of the over 400 DUI cases in the city, 74 have been resolved, 37 have suspects facing charges in court, and 37 have suspects who are already identified but still at large.

The 24 Oras report said the gun traced to the suspects was used in the killing of Aaron Deloria, a barangay tanod who was gunned down on July 28 last year.

The report said Deloria was active in the barangay's campaign against illegal drugs. —KBK, GMA News