1 killed, 4 nabbed in drug buy-bust

CEBU, Philippines - A suspected drug pusher was shot dead while four others including a 73-year-old widower and a 16-year-old boy were arrested in separate buy-bust operations in Barangay Calawisan, Lapu-Lapu City, Friday afternoon.

Harold Van Abad, a resident of sitio Lato of said barangay, has sustained gunshot wound on his body.

He was brought by the police to Lapu-Lapu City Hospital but pronounced dead upon arrival at the said hospital.

Arrested were Rodulfo Sumalinog,73; Joseph Inihao, 26; Candido Matus, Jr. and his 16-year-old son, all of barangay Calawisan.

Matus, a former taxi driver,  has been tagged as the big time drug pusher operating in barangay Calawisan after he lived in the place in just a span of three months.

Lapu-Lapu City Police chief, Sr. Supt. Rey Lyndon Lawas, told reporters that he received information of the alleged illegal drug pushing activities of Matus two months ago.

Lawas said he directed Police Sr. Insp. Rogelio Pineda, Jr., head of the Lapu-Lapu City Anti-Illegal Drugs Special Operations Task Group, to conduct further surveillance and verify the said report.

After they confirmed the report, Lawas said he directed Pineda to prepare the drug and buy bust operations in barangay Calawisan.

At around 4 p.m. last Friday, Pineda on order of Lawas conducted an operation by forming two teams resulting to the arrest of Matus, his son and two others.

Abad tried to elude arrest after the police handed him buy-bust money in exchange of one piece small heat sealed believed to be shabu.

Sensing that his life in danger, a police operative shot Abad.

Allegedly confiscated from the suspects were 80 grams of shabu with a market value at P500,000; cash amounting to P17,000; .45 caliber pistol and .38 caliber revolver.

Police also recovered drug paraphernalia allegedly used in sniffing shabu.

Lawas told reporters that they are still conducting further investigation of the possible link of Matus to big time drug pusher in Lapu-Lapu City.

According to Lawas, they received initial reports that Matus has pending cases in Liloan town for alleged drug pushing.

Lawas said the arrest of Matus group is a big accomplishment of the police this year in their campaign against illegal drugs.

City Mayor Paz Radaza, on the other hand, congratulated Lawas and his men for the success in their campaign against illegal drugs. —/GMR (FREEMAN)