By Lyka Manalo
BATANGAS CITY— A man detained at the Batangas Provincial Jail for drug charges was shot dead while being transported to his court trial in this city Friday morning.
Superintendent Sancho Celedio, city police chief, said the fatal shooting of Elvis Areglo happened at 8:30 a.m. while he and other fellow inmates of the provincial jail were inside a vehicle that was to take them to the Bulwagan ng Katarungan (Hall of Justice) in Barangay Pallocan.
Celedio said five men armed with long firearms hailed and surrounded the Batangas City Jail service vehicle in Barangay Sta. Clara and then shot Areglo dead and then fled the scene on board an unmarked getaway vehicle.
It appears that Areglo, who is faced with charges of violating Republic Act 9165 (Illegal Drugs) and RA 10591 (Illegal Firearms), was the target of the gunmen, Celedio said.
Areglo was rushed to the St. Patrick’s Hospital but he was declared dead on arrival.
Celedio said they have yet to establish the motive in the shooting while investigation continues.