Informer killed in drug deal gone wrong

MANILA, Philippines - An alleged police asset was killed during in what appeared to be a botched “test-buy” preceding a drug raid in Quezon City Sunday night.

Wency Casino died while undergoing treatment for gunshot wounds in the torso and right arm, said Chief Inspector Benjamin Elenzano, head of the Homicide Investigation Section of the Quezon City Police District.

Police Officer 2 Joycelyn Marcelo said Casino was an asset and informant of the QCPD’s District Anti-Illegal Drugs Special Operations Task Group (DAID-SOTG).

Citing information from DAID-SOTG deputy head Senior Inspector Erwin Guevarra, Marcelo said Casino was supposed to do a “test-buy” for shabu at Pandoc Compound in Barangay Holy Spirit when the attack happened.

However, Guevarra’s superior, Senior Inspector Jaime Armenta, said he had no information about a supposed test-buy in the area that night.

Armenta, who heads the DAID-SOTG, said Casino had worked for them as an asset but the latter had not been in contact with them for about a month.

Based on the account of Casino’s fellow informant and companion at the time of the killing, police tagged three suspects identified only as Allan and Orak and a woman named Lenlen Mangundatu.

According to Marcelo, Casino and his companion went to the compound at past 9 p.m. for the supposed test-buy. When the suspects approached them, two were armed with a .45 caliber handgun and a long firearm.

The assailants suddenly opened fire at the victim, who was left slumped on the pavement. His companion, who managed to run away, later brought him to Malvar General Hospital and later to East Avenue Medical Center, where he died while undergoing surgery at around 11 p.m.