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Lawyer handling drug cases shot dead

gunA lone gunman shot dead a lawyer who was handling cases for arrested drug suspects in a daring attack outside a mall Wednesday night in Tagum City, Davao del Norte, police said yesterday.

The companion of lawyer Rex Jasper Lopos only learned that he was shot when he was taken to the Bishop Joseph Regan Memorial Hospital where he was declared dead, according to Chief Insp. Anjanette Tirador, spokesperson of the Tagum City police.

Tirador said that Lopos just got out of the mall and was heading towards his car at around 7 p.m. when a lone gunman shot him from the back. The bullet did not exit his body.

“His companion thought that he had a heart attack because he just collapsed on the pavement. He was taken to the hospital where it was learned that he had a bullet wound,” said Tirador.

Policemen were immediately sent to the crime scene where a security guard recalled hearing a gunshot. There was no cartridge recovered.

Tirador said that they are now conducting an in-depth background check on the 41-year old Lopos who is a native of Compostela Valley but has a law firm in Tagum City.

During the initial background check, Lopos was reportedly handing drug cases as a defense counsel.

But it was just one of the angles, according to the police, as the initial probe also disclosed that he was also handling cases relating to land dispute. (Aaron Recuenco)