By Glazyl Y. Masculino
BACOLOD City – An alleged high-value target in the anti-illegal drug trade campaign was killed while seven others were arrested in a buy-bust at Purok Florenceville, Barangay Pahanocoy here on Thursday night.
Police identified the fatality as Jose Paterio Tolete, 42, of Barangay Taculing here.
Police Captain Leo Estopa, team leader of the City Drug Enforcement Unit (CDEU), said Tolete, who was reportedly armed with a .38-caliber revolver, fired at police operatives, prompting them to retaliate.
Based on the autopsy, he succumbed to gunshot wounds.
Estopa said Tolete rented a house at Barangay Pahanocoy where he allegedly sold drugs.
Estopa said they are investigating the suspect’s sources of drugs, adding that it might be outside the city or Negros Occidental.
He said that Tolete also distributed drugs in various areas in the city.
Seven Bacolod and Negros Occidental residents were also arrested during the operation – Angel Villanueva, 37, of Barangay Estefania; Janting Monlido, 35, of Barangay Tangub; Dante Casiple, 33, of Barangay Villamonte; Jose Villanueva Jr., 46, and Kenjie Bais, 25, both residents of Barangay Singcang-Airport; and Denny Rubaton, 38, of Barangay 35; and Arjie Aghon, 26, of Bago City.
Estopa said the arrested persons were allegedly caught holding a “pot session” inside the house.
Police recovered 55 grams of suspected shabu worth P374,000, the P1,000 marked money, digital weighing scale, an improvised tooter, and a lighter.
He said drug charges were already filed yesterday against the seven arrested suspects, who are now detained at Police Station 8.
All of them were checked in relation to health protocols amid the coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) pandemic, he added.
But Jennifer Mercader, an alleged drug personality from Cebu province, escaped.
Estopa said Mercader was a jail escapee from Cebu and has been reportedly staying here since 2019.
He said they are checking his background for other possible criminal offenses.
