Cop shot in buttocks in Ronda drug bust

A member of the Provincial Intelligence and Investigation Branch of the Cebu Provincial Police Office was wounded when suspected drug pushers put up a fight during an operation in barangay Palanas, Ronda town Tuesday night.

Elements of the PIIB led by P/Insp. Wilfredo Pulvera conducted a buy-bust operation against six suspected drug pushers in the area who were identified as Ferdinand Bisnar, Jefrey Baguio alias Digoy, and brothers Lito, Victor Joseph and Tedy Fuentes.

The policemen arrested Bisnar, 25, a native of Getafe, Bohol, when he handed a pack of suspected shabu to a poseur-buyer, but Baguio and the Fuentes brothers eluded arrest and ran toward a cockpit arena.

While Pulvera was holding Bisnar, PO2 Artemio Tumakay III and PO2 Zeusito Veloso ran after the other suspects who, upon noticing the chasing lawmen, opened fire and hit Tumakay in the buttocks.

Tumakay was then rushed to Chong Hua Hospital while Bisnar was temporarily detained at the Ronda Police Station. Police recovered six packs of suspected shabu, a motorcycle and an empty shell during the operation.

PIIB chief P/Supt. Juanito Enguerra yesterday told reporters that the operation was conducted after a high official of Badian town told him of the rampant selling of drugs in barangay Palanas.

The nephew of the public official, Enguerra added, was a drug dependent who used to buy drugs in barangay Palanas.

Pulvera said Tumakay was lucky that he was only hit in the buttocks.

Veloso also said the incident, which happened near a cockpit arena, erupted after the suspects noticed the presence of the lawmen. - Norvie S. Misa