2 cops hurt in QC shootout; 7 drug suspects arrested

MANILA, Philippines - Two Quezon City policemen were hurt in a gun battle with a group of suspected drug peddlers in Barangay Central yesterday morning.

Quezon City Police District (QCPD) director Chief Superintendent George Regis, in an interview with The STAR, said they raided an area in Barangay Central known as a “drug haven” and arrested seven drug suspects.

Regis identified the wounded police officers as Senior Police Officer 2 Gilbert Forlucas and PO1 Teodorico Casison, both assigned at the anti-illegal drug section of the QCPD-Station 10.

Forlucas sustained a gunshot wound in the abdomen while Casison suffered a gunshot wound in the thigh. They were brought to the Chinese General Hospital.

The police identified the arrested suspects as Mario Guaballa, 59 and George Pagua, 46, both employees of the Department of Public Works and Highways; Honey Boy Alejandro, 29; Eddie Santos, 29; Esmael Maulana, 43; Jamal Abdul Lumabas, 32; and Christian Paul Desuyo, 18; all residents of the barangay.

But the suspects known as alias Lito and Udstadz, both armed with handguns and suspected of shooting at the policemen, escaped during the shootout.

Policemen led by Inspector Dondon Llapitan earlier conducted an operation after that resulted in the arrest of Guaballo and Pagua, allegedly while engaged in a pot session.

After interrogation, the suspects led the police team to their source of illegal drugs, where police discovered plastic sachets of shabu and drug paraphernalia concealed in the wooden flooring of a mosque in the area.

Regis has ordered a manhunt for the two escapees as appropriate charges are being readied against the arrested suspects.