ILOILO CITY: Police investigators are verifying findings showing that the killing of radio blocktimer Neil “Lito” Jimena is drug-related.

CSupt. Cipriano E Querol Jr., chief of the police regional office based at Camp Delgado here had earlier ordered the creation of the Special Investigation Task Group “Jimena” right after the death of Jimena last August 22, 2011 at the national highway in Bangga Maravilla, brgy. 3, of EB Magalona, Negros Occidental.

Jimena, a radio blocktimer in Iloilo City was shot dead by two unidentified suspects riding tandem on a black motorcycle.

Early speculations from Jimena’s friends claim that he was killed because of his radio attacks and commentaries against Iloilo City Mayor Jed Patrick Mabilog.

The city mayor said he has nothing to do with the Jimena killing and had asked the regional police office and even the National Bureau of Investigation to help in fast-tracking the investigation.

Jimena, 42, married, resided in two addresses— Hacienda Teresa, brgy. Alicante, EB Magalona in Negros Occidental and brgy. San Isidro, Lapaz, Iloilo City— before his death.

Police investigators take into account that in 2009, the victim also survived a liquidation attempt by two unidentified suspects at Victorias City in Negros Occidental that might also be the same suspects.

Jimena was allegedly an asset or drug informant of the Philippine Drug Enforcement Agency (PDEA) and before, of the Iloilo City Police Office Intelligence Section formerly headed by his best friend Supt. Musa Amiong.