Alleged pusher shot dead in buy-bust

CEBU, Philippines - A suspected drug pusher was shot dead while two of his companions were arrested after a brief chase with members of Lapu-Lapu City Police Office-City Anti Illegal Drugs Operations Task Group that ended at the neighboring town of Cordova yesterday afternoon.

City police Director Senior Supt. Rey Lyndon Lawas told The FREEMAN that they have yet to identify the fatality known in Sitio Takan, Barangay Babag, only by his alias “Shaman.”

His two companions, Sandy Casul, 36, a resident of the said barangay; and Amadeo Villanueva Abad, of Sitio Kinalumsan, Barangay Gun-ob are now in jail.

Lawas said that the two arrested suspects were found to be in possession of suspected shabu, but as of press time, he could not ascertain the exact evidence operatives confiscated from them.

According to Lawas, the fatality operated a makeshift cottage and a small cave in the area that he converted into a drug den for his customers.

“Iyaha nang teritoryo ang barangay Babag. Ang atong info nga nadawat sa gawas sa Lapu-Lapu City gikan ang iyang source,” Lawas said.

Police received information on the suspects’ illegal drug trade in the area. According to Lawas, the operatives led by Sr. Insp. Rogelio Pineda conducted the operation using a policeman as a poseur-buyer and bought P600 worth of shabu from Shaman.

But Shaman allegedly realized his “customer” was signaling other people and immediately pulled out a handgun from his waist and started shooting at the approaching policemen.

“Pagkontra-senyas sa poseur buyer didto na siya nakig-engage sa atong CAIDSOTG,” Lawas said.

A brief shootout and a chase followed but the suspect managed to jump into the river and swam to the other side which was already Barangay Pilipog, Cordova town.

When the pursuing policemen arrived in the said barangay they saw the suspect bloodied and immediately brought him to the Lapu-Lapu City Hospital. He was later declared dead due to gunshot wounds sustained in the abdomen and legs.

According to Lawas, the suspect may have been hit already in the shootout before he tried to escape across the river.  Investigators found from his possession 26 packs containing suspected shabu, a .38 cal. revolver with two live rounds and three empty shells, P6,330 in drug money and the P600 buy-bust money. —/BRP (FREEMAN)