Bicol cops gun down cop-turned-gun trafficker
A member of the Albay Police Provincial Office (PPO) who has gained notoriety for involvement in the trafficking and sale of illegal firearms was killed in a gun battle with undercover officers in Daraga, Albay shortly before noon Friday, Police Regional Office (PRO) 5 director, Brigadier General Jonnel C. Estomo said.
Corporal Joel Tualla, assigned with the Polangui Municipal Police Station (MPS) in Albay, exchanged fire with officers out to arrest him during the entrapment operation in Purok 4, Bgy. Bañag in Daraga municipality 11:05 a.m. Thursday, said the PRO5 director in a report to Philippine National Police (PNP) chief, General Guillermo Lorenzo T. Eleazar.
According to Estomo, members of the PRO5 Regional Special Operations Unit under Lieutenant Colonel Wilfredo V. Sy conducted the entrapment operation with the support of the Daraga MPS, the Albay PPO, the PRO5 Regional Drug Enforcement Unit and the PNP Integrity Monitoring and Enforcement Group.
Target of the operation was Tualla, a resident of Purok 7, Bgy. Busak in Libmanan, Camarines Sur, he said.
Estomo said that during the sting, the policeman showed up to sell a caliber 9mm KG-9 machine pistol and a cal. .45 semi-automatic pistol to an undercover officer.
He said the suspect had just received the P45,000 worth of boodle money topped by a marked P1,000 bill from the poseur when he sensed he was about to be arrested.
Immediately, the cop drew a concealed firearm and fired shots at the lawmen hitting Lieutenant Nestor Callos Jr.’s bullet-proof vest.
Other officers led by Major Ramon Czar Solas returned fire killing the suspect on the spot.
Estomo said that recovered from the possession of the slain policeman was one KG-9 machine pistol, a cal. .45 pistol, his PNP-issued 9mm pistol, four loaded magazines and the marked money.
