2 PNP units in near clash over drug raid

Police operatives of the Task Force "Katapat" and members of the San Pedro police force nearly clashed Friday night after an uncoordinated raid on the house of a suspected drug pusher in Barangay San Vicente, San Pedro, Laguna.

The near shoot-out came shortly after nine members of Task Force "Katapat" of the Department of Interior and Local Government (DILG) barged into the house of Rodolfo Casalme at about 10:30 p.m. Friday on suspicion that he was selling guns and "shabu."

While the raiding team led by Superintendent Rodolfo Sison, was flashing out Casalme, the neighborhood reported to San Pedro police station the presence of armed men in civilian clothes destroying the concrete fence, gate and main door of Casalme’s house.

Despite identifying themselves, responding members of the San Pedro Mobile Group were ignored by the raiding team. Meanwhile, SPO3 Ruel Galvan and SPO3 Romulo Romero, an intelligence officer and case investigator, respectively, arrived on board an owner-type jeep to further verify the presence of armed men in the area.

However, Galvan and Romero themselves were held at bay and were disarmed of their handguns by the raiding team.

Upon seeing their companions being disarmed, members of the San Pedro Mobile Group tried to draw their firearms and prepared to shoot at the raiding team.

The timely arrival of Superintendent Victor Agarcio, San Pedro police chief, prevented a bloody confrontation.,

The Task Force "Katapat" raiding team was forced to leave Casalme behind.