By Christine Cudis/ PNA
MANILA — The Philippine Drug Enforcement Agency (PDEA) on Thursday said it is keen on finding the suspect behind the brutal murder of its Camarines Norte agent Enrico Barba.
“Definitely it is the works of drug syndicates. Barba was captured and tortured to their content. We strongly condemn the act and guarantee that the one who did this will get what he deserves,” PDEA OIC Director Irish Calaguas said at the sidelines of an anti-drug advocacy event.
Barba was previously Assistant Provincial Officer of PDEA Camarines Norte Provincial Office
Calaguas called on the public to be involved in the fight to combat illegal drugs in the country.
“This is the time na baguhin natin ang mindset natin na ang laban ng illegal na droga ay hindi lamang laban ng gobyerno lalong-lalo na ang binabangga namin ay organized, napakaraming pera na mga sindikato (This is the time to change our mindset that the war on drugs is not only the job of the government, it should be every Filipino’s concern. Most especially because the criminals we are fighting are organized and rich syndicates),” she said.
“Kahit tatlo pang President (Rodrigo) Duterte ang mamuno sa atin, kung hindi tutulong ang lahat ng Filipino, hindi tayo mananalo (Even if we elect three President Dutertes, if we lack support of all Filipinos, we cannot win the war against drugs),” Calaguas added.
Barba was reported missing on Monday midnight after meeting with a supposed tipster in Daet, Camarines Norte the day before.
PDEA said his meeting was relayed to Provincial Officer Agent Vidal Bacolod who also reported the meet-up with the regional director.
At around 8 p.m., the regional office received a report that Barba’s body was found in the town of Lupi.
According to PDEA, Barba suffered from several gunshot wounds in the face and body.
He also had contusions in the frontal body and suffered from trauma in the head as indicated by initial autopsy.
Police said Barba was found in a concrete canal, face upwards with his hands and mouth tied and wrapped with packaging tape.
