Anti-drugs raid Ex-rebel killed, ex-soldier hurt; guns, shabu confiscated

DUMAGUETE CITY, Philippines  — An alleged former communist rebel was killed in a shootout, while his supposed companion, an ex-Philippine Army soldier, was injured and arrested during a police anti-illegal drugs operation in Canlaon City, Negros Oriental early Tuesday.

The incident took place around 5:55 a.m. at Barangay Mabigo in Canlaon City, according to Inspector Ryan Jay Orapa, head of the Provincial Anti-Illegal Drugs Special Operations Task Group of the Negros Oriental Provincial Police Office.

Orapa said his team of the PAIDSOTG, together with operatives of the Provincial Intelligence Bureau-Special Operations Group of the NOrPPO, the Canlaon Police Station and the Provincial Intelligence Group, conducted the buy-bust operation outside the house of one of the suspects, identified as Rey Omboy Rosalia, 41, who was a former soldier.

Rosalia, allegedly sold shabu weighing 0.2 gram, at a cost of P500 to an undercover agent, said Orapa, adding that the suspect was immediately arrested. Shortly after, the police served and executed a search warrant, issued by Judge Mario Trinidad of the Regional Trial Court-Branch 64 in Guihulngan City.

During the conduct of the search of Rosalia's house, a certain Efren Bartian, 45, who was reportedly the right hand man of Rosalia, who was inside the house, allegedly pulled out a .38-caliber revolver and aimed at one of the policemen, said Orapa.

This prompted the police operatives to fire back. Bartian, also known as Tawis and allegedly an ex-NPA member, died on the spot, he said..

Inside Rosalia's house, the police found and seized 16 pieces of plastic sachets of shabu, a hand grenade, a sumpak or an improvised firearm, a .45-caliber pistol with 45 pieces of live ammunition, 17 rounds of live ammunition for .38-caliber, two magazines of .45-caliber, a Honda 125 XRM motorcycle and drug paraphernalia.  (FREEMAN)