AGENTS of the Philippine National Police-Drug Enforcement Group on Thursday night 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 Brig. Gen. Narciso D. Domingo said yesterday.

“This is part of our ongoing operation ordered by PNP chief Gen. 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 identified one of the slain suspects as Albert Gumba alias “Ambe,” a former member of the Lupi Municipal Police Station. The second suspect is yet to be identified.

Members of the PNP-DEG Special Operations Unit 5 spearheaded the operation in Bgy. San Isidro in Naga City past 11 p.m. Thursday, with the support of the PNP Integrity Monitoring and Enforcement Group under Brig. Gen. Warren F. de Leon, and the Police Regional Office 5 headed by Brig. Gen. Rudolph B. Dimas.

The suspects sensed the entrapment and drew their guns and started shooting, prompting back-up operatives to return fire, killing both on the spot.

Recovered from the slain suspects were a plastic packet containing seven grams of shabu worth P47,600, the buy-bust money topped by a marked P1,000 bill, and two loaded cal. .45 semi-automatic pistols.

A motorcycle without plate number belonging to the suspects was impounded by the PNP-DEG.

AUTHOR PROFILE

Alfred P. Dalizon