Police investigators are now looking into drug trade conflict as a possible motive in the daring daylight gun attack against former policeman Zandro Zamora that resulted in his death inside a cockpit arena.
“Yung mga angle na ito ang tinitingnan natin muna ngayon baka may conflict siya sa mga ka-trasaction niya,” said Bohol Provincial Police Office (BPPO) chief Sr. Supt. Angeles Geñorga Jr.
Zamora who was a police officer 2 was dismissed from the service in 2016 for having tested positive for illegal drug use, added Geñorga.
The victim is believed to have also been involved in the illegal drug trade.
According to Geñorga, a BPPO task group was formed to lead deeper investigations on the case.
Meanwhile, initial police probe indicated that Zamora was gunned down by two bonnet-wearing assailants inside the Dauis Cockpit Arena while at least two other suspects were stationed around the area as lookouts.
The two armed men who attacked Zamora also fatally shot Paterna Acuña, one of the cockpit’s attendants, after she attempted to block them from entering the establishment.
According to Geñorga, police will also be conducting a forensic examination on Zamora’s mobile phone which was recovered from his possession after he was gunned down.
Earlier, the Dauis police noted that they found two text conversations on Zamora’s phone which may have been connected to his murder.
Police said that Zamora conversed with an unidentified Filipino-speaking person who he only referred to as “Dong.”
Zamora was supposed to meet the unidentified texter at the arena to sell him a packet of shabu for P500 based on their conversation.
In another cellphone dialogue earlier on the same day, Zamora asked an also unidentified person if there were cops in the cockpit’s vicinity to which the texter replied that there were none.
However, at past 2 p.m., the same texter told Zamora not to proceed to the cockpit warning him that there were people waiting for him.
“Naay mga naka civilian,” the texter said.
Authorities believe that Zamora was unable to read the text which may have caused him to still go to the arena despite the threat. (R. Tutas)