A jail guard accused of being a protector of drug personalities inside the Negros Oriental Provincial Detention and Rehabilitation Center in Dumaguete City succumbed to gunshot wounds Thursday.
Police said jail guard Artemio Molas Zerna, 63, was shot by riding-in-tandem suspects who were wearing masks and baseball caps near the corner of Lukewright and Real Streets at 10:20 a.m.
Zerna, who sustained eight gunshot wounds, died while undergoing treatment at the Holy Child Hospital in Dumaguete City about two hours after the incident.
The slain jail guard was facing administrative and criminal charges for his role in the rampant trading of illegal drugs from the NODRC.
The Philippine Drug Enforcement Agency identified Zerna as the protector of four convicted prisoners who continued to sell drugs from their jail cells. They were identified as Ritchie Tindog, who married his live-in partner inside the jail premises last April 10, Raffy Catiga, Elmer Tindog and Batoy Tindog.
A subsequent surprise inspection at the NODRC last June 21 yielded 80 grams of shabu worth about P800,000, and the confiscation of assorted illegal drugs paraphernalia from the various jail cells and from the ceiling of the jail chapel.
A video recording of the raid also showed that authorities recovered from the “kubol” (hut) of Zerna a notebook listing collectibles from clients in amounts of of up to P500,000, including deposit slips unknown personalities.
The victim’s live-in partner, Cristina Tigas, said he received death threats more than two months ago.
Zerna is the second jail guard to be killed in over two months. Gunmen also shot and killed jail guard Vicente Enrique Dominado, 47, last April 24.
Dominado was shot by gunmen who were riding in tandem as he was having his motorcycle serviced at a tire repair facility around 6:40 p.m.
Dominado was also believed to have been involved in the drug trade after police recovered two sachets believed to contain shabu and an improvised tooter from the pockets of the victim. Records show the victim had a drug case a few years ago but it was dismissed. (JG)
