Man under drugs watchlist in Bacolod shot dead


A POLICE crime scene investigator secures the area in Barangay Mandalagan, Bacolod City where Francis Mark Rito was killed last Tuesday. (Photo courtesy of Kirby Federez)
BACOLOD CITY – A 38-year-old man under the drugs watchlist of the Police Station 3 in this city was gunned down by an unidentified man in Villa Lucasan, Barangay Mandalagan here last Tuesday, May 31.

Police identified the victim as Francis Mark Rito of Barangay Bata here.

Police Capt. Armilyn Vargas, head of the Police Station 3, said the victim was probably on his way to work when he was shot. Vargas said that Rito was jailed for theft and availed of probation six years ago.

She said the victim was linked to a shooting incident in Barangay Bata last month in which 31-year-old Yuki Castro was killed. No charges were filed against Rito after Castro’s family did not pursue the case.

Police have no lead yet on the motive of Rito’s murder. Police still has to check closed circuit television camera (CCTV) footages to determine the number of perpetrators and their possible identities.