Drug pusher shot for resisting arrest

A suspected drug pusher landed in the hospital after he was shot in the leg when he allegedly tried to grab the service firearm of a policeman during his arrest along A. Lopez Street in barangay Calamba last night.

The suspect was identified as Joel Apura, 48, of F. Ramos Street. He suffered a gunshot wound in his left leg.

A team from San Nicolas Police Station led by SPO1 Metodio Aparis was conducting a roving patrol in the area when they reportedly chanced upon the suspect.

When being frisked, Apura allegedly yielded three sachets of suspected shabu. But when police tried to handcuff the suspect, he reportedly resisted and tried to grab Aparis' service firearm.

PO3 Fortunato Macaranas, who was helping Aparis at that time, quickly drew his firearm and shot Apura once, hitting the suspect in the left leg.

Police brought Apura to Cebu City Medical Center and later filed charges against him before the City Prosecutor's Office for drug possession and resisting arrest.

Earlier that day, PO1 Francis Lyle Flores, also of the San Nicolas Police Station, injured his right index finger and right wrist after a suspected drug pusher resisted arrest and shouted for help.

Friends and relatives of Edward Baldesamo, who heard about his arrest, attacked the policemen. The arresting officers, who were apparently outnumbered, retreated with a sachet of suspected shabu they bought from Baldesamo during an earlier buy-bust operation.

The suspect, however, eluded arrest. - Edwin Ian Melecio/LPM