BY ADRIAN P. NEMES III
A single gunshot to the head ended the life of a freelance make-up artist while he was in a tricycle parked near the Bacolod City Water District office along Galo Street in Brgy. 12, Bacolod Thursday night.
John King Porras, 34, of Purok Bolinao, Brgy. 1, Bacolod was rushed to the Corazon Locsin Montelibano Memorial Regional Hospital but died while being treated, P/Major Ramel Sarona, Police Station 1 commander, said yesterday.
The driver of the tricycle, whose name was withheld for security reason, said that Porras was talking to somebody over the cellphone when a lone gunman on a black scooter stopped and shot him.
He said the suspect, who was clad in a black jacket and was wearing a black helmet, escaped by turning right to San Juan Street and heading north.
The driver added that he usually picks up Porras from his house in the wee hours and drives him to different areas in Bacolod where he would meet with several individuals.
Karen Delubio, Porras’ sister, told the media that he left their house past 9 p.m. but she did not know who he was meeting with, or his activities.
LGBTQ MEMBER
Investigation conducted by Police Station 1 operatives showed that Porras, who was a member of the LGBTQ+ community, was a former drug surrenderee. Sarona said this is one of the angles being looked into behind his killing.
Although Porras’ family seemed afraid to disclose the things they know, they are willing to cooperate with the police investigation, he added.
Sarona said they already sought the help of a technician so they could decode the password of Porras’ cellphone and possibly get leads for their ongoing investigation.
CAUGHT ON CCTV
Asked why the police failed to hear the gunshot despite the proximity of the crime scene to Police Station 1, Sarona said the gunman used a .45 caliber pistol with silencer, based on the video captured by a closed-circuit television camera.
He added that the killing of Porras has nothing to do with the death of former drug-detainee Roue Senador, “alias Jun-Jun”, 52, of Purok Malapitan in Brgy. Alijis on May 31, along Rosario Street.*
