‘Pusher’ killed in shootout

CEBU, Philippines - An alleged level two drug pusher with a pending warrant of arrest was killed in a shootout with police while another suspected drug pusher arrested in a separate anti-drug operation in the city. 

Alvin Parba was hit and died on the spot when police retaliated after he allegedly fired shots at operatives of the Special Weapons and Tactics (SWAT) team who proceeded to Sitio Manggahan, Barangay Tisa past 1:00 p.m. yesterday after receiving a report of an armed person.

Superintendent Noli Romana, director of the Cebu City Police Office, said that when SWAT personnel arrived at the scene, Parba ran to the house of his neighbor, Elmer Quibite, where he reportedly hid as he opened fire.

Superintendent Romeo Santander, City Intelligence Branch chief, said that to avoid the similar incident in Bohol in which a policeman also died in a shootout, the SWAT personnel had to retaliate.

SPO4 Rey Cuyos, homicide investigator, said Parba had gunshot wounds to his head and chest.

They also recovered a caliber .357 revolver believed to be used by Parba. Several packs of shabu were also seized by homicide investigators from the scene.

Quibite was also taken into custody after several packs of drugs and drug paraphernalia were reportedly recovered from his residence.

Parba’s family alleged though that what happened yesterday was a rubout and denied that there was a shootout.

For his part, Romana said that he will look into the possible violation of the standard operating procedure (SOP).

But he said that the narrative report submitted to him by the responding SWAT personnel is clear.

He added that if there is any complaint against yesterday’s operation, they will face it.

“Drug lord” falls

Meanwhile, after eluding Cebu City police in July, City Intelligence Branch finally arrested Heracleo Berdin, a suspected drug lord, on Tuesday night in Barangay Inayawan.

Santander said Berdin eluded arrest on July and has been selling drugs in a bigger scale. He reportedly operated within the city and in the neighboring provinces.

Santander said that last July, they were able to recover 25 kilos of dried marijuana from Berdin’s place and arrested five other people.

The CIP chief said that during the tactical interrogation, they discovered that Berdin only transacts with close contacts and directly delivers it to them.

“In fact, nigawas man didto nag direct siya contact, nag-deliver siya,” Santander said.

Both Romana and Santander said that the success of their operation would not be possible if not for the support of the community.

Both of them said that they are thankful and they will intensify their efforts now that the community is cooperating with the local police. — (FREEMAN)