By Glazyl Y. Masculino
BACOLOD CITY – An alleged drug suspect was wounded after he was shot while allegedly resisting arrest from police operatives during a buy-bust operation in Barangay Nanca, E.B. Magalona, Negros Occidental, last Monday.
According to a police report, three persons allegedly transacted with a police agent during the operation.
However, one of them reportedly drew his firearm upon sensing the presence of a policeman, prompting a police operative to shoot him in the right leg to neutralize him.
Police confiscated from the suspects 14 grams of suspected shabu worth P95,200, P500 in marked money, an improvised tooter, and a .38 caliber revolver with three rounds of ammunition.
Two suspects, aged 32 and 48, and both residents of Victorias City were arrested, while their companion managed to escape.
Police Captain Judesses Catalogo, public information officer of the Negros Occidental Police Provincial Office (Nocppo), said that the rule of engagement has always been properly communicated to police officers, especially when there is an imminent threat to the operative during police operations.
“We will investigate the case, determine the jurisdiction, and assess the status of the police officer involved,” Catalogo said.
Meanwhile, an alleged remnant of a drug group and his cohort were also arrested in a separate drug bust in Barangay 9, Kabankalan City, on the same day.
Police Lieutenant Colonel Roberto Indiape Jr., the city police chief, identified the primary suspect as a 33-year-old resident of Barangay 9, with his companion being a 20-year-old resident of Barangay Hilamonan.
Police seized 17 grams of suspected shabu worth P115,600, P500 in marked money, three lighters, a digital weighing scale, and several non-drug items from the suspects. Indiape stated that both suspects tested positive for drug use and have been charged accordingly.
Indiape also noted that the primary suspect was previously arrested for a drug offense but was later released through a plea bargaining agreement.
