Ex-cop turned ‘drug dealer’; cohort killed in Naga shootout
AGENTS of the Philippine National Police Drug Enforcement Group (PNP-DEG) on Thursday evening shot dead two armed drug trafficking suspects, one of them an ex-Bicol policeman, during a shootout that marred the conduct of a buy-bust operation in Naga City, PNP-DEG director, Brigadier General Narciso D. Domingo said Saturday.
“This is part of our ongoing operation ordered by PNP chief, General Rodolfo Azurin Jr. to account for rogues in uniform, both active, retired and dismissed cops who are engaged in illicit drug activities,” the PNP-DEG director said.
The official said that the suspect was a former member of the Lupi Municipal Police Station, and the 2nd suspect is yet to be identified as of press time.
According to Domingo, members of the PNP-DEG Special Operations Unit 5 spearheaded the operation in Barangay San Isidro in Naga City past 11 p.m. Thursday with the support of the PNP’s Integrity Monitoring and Enforcement Group (IMEG) under Brig. Gen. Warren F. de Leon and the Police Regional Office (PRO) 5 headed by Brig. Gen. Rudolph B. Dimas.
He said that apparently, the duo sensed the ongoing entrapment operation and drew their concealed firearms, and started shooting, prompting backup operatives to return fire, killing both on the spot.
Recovered from the possession of the slain suspects were a plastic packet containing seven grams of shabu worth P47,600, the buy-bust money, and two loaded calibers .45 semi-automatic pistols.
The PNP-DEG impounded a motorcycle without a plate number belonging to the suspects.