4 hurt in Balamban shootout

CEBU, Philippines —  At least four drug suspects were wounded after shooting it out with the police in Balamban Saturday night.

The incident happened during a buy-bust operation conducted by the operatives of Drug Enforcement Unit of Balamban Police Station in Barangay Pondol.

Balamban Police Station chief, Police Lt. Col. Glenn Hife, said that when the subject identified as Richard Moscoso alias Harry noticed that he was transacting with a police officer he quickly boarded a gray Mitsubishi Mirage G4 with license plate Y2D754.

Moscoso sped away prompting a pursuit that reached Barangay Cambuhawe in the said municipality. It was learned later that the car was driven by Arianne Blaire Navales.

Aside from Moscoso there were other passengers on board the car---Rex Ledesma, Rhea Abegail Genovesa, and two 15-year-old children.

When they arrived in Barangay Cambuhawe, the car was blocked by a police patrol car. The suspects were ordered to surrender but the driver instead maneuvered hitting a motorcycle used by one of the police operatives.

A shootout ensued after Moscoso reportedly opened fire at the police. Moscoso got off from the car after it overshot the road and tried to escape but he was immediately neutralized and arrested by the police.

The police quickly checked the car and found the wounded passengers inside--Ledesma, Navales, and one of the two minors. They were quickly taken to the Balamban Provincial Hospital for treatment.

“Wala mi kakuan og grupo ba ni sila pero mag live-in partner ni sila kaning si Arianne ug si Richard ug si Rex ug si Abigail maoy live-in partner pud,” said Hife.

The police recovered various caliber of weapons and packs of suspected shabu.

Hife revealed that Moscoso was arrested in 2015 and they have been monitoring him for a long time.

IN LAPU-LAPU CITY

Meanwhile, two high-value individuals as well as a street-level individual were caught in the buy-bust operation of the City Intelligence Unit and City Drug Enforcement Unit of the Lapu-Lapu City Police Office in the city’s different barangays.

The CIU and CDEU of LCPO first conducted a buy-bust operation Saturday dawn in sitio Dumpsite, Barangay Mactan where they arrested Jomar Inot who is a high-value individual and recovered 50 grams of shabu worth P340,000.

At 4 o'clock in the morning on Sunday, Ryan Alisna Blanco, who is also a high-value individual, was caught in a buy-bust operation with 95 grams of shabu worth P664,000 as well as a .45 caliber firearm and magazine with nine live bullets.

This was followed at 6:45 in the morning on Sunday where Emma Inot Augusto alias Matchai, and Roger Dequillo Inosolongo were also arrested.

The two were seized with 10 grams of shabu worth P68,000.

Those arrested are scheduled to be charged with the crime of possessing and selling illegal drugs.