Two cops hurt in shooting with suspected drug dealer

By Glazyl Y. Masculino

BACOLOD City – Police are conducting a hot pursuit operation against an alleged drug suspect who shot two anti-drug operatives to escape a buy-bust operation at Sitio Sapa, Barangay Magallon Cadre, Moises Padilla, Negros Occidental last Wednesday.

The names of the two wounded policemen were withheld.

Police Captain Judesses Catalogo, public information officer of Negros Occidental Police Provincial Office (Nocppo), said the Moises Padilla Municipal Police Station subjected 35-year-old Jeffrey Cabato to a buy-bust after about two weeks of monitoring.

However, Cabato sensed that he was transacting with police operatives, prompting him to shoot them to escape.

A brief chase then followed, but police failed to arrest Cabato considering that the operation happened in the evening and they are not familiar with the place, according to Catalogo.

The two wounded cops were taken to a private hospital here and are now in stable condition.

Catalogo said he is not sure if the operatives were able to retaliate, since there are some houses in the area.

“Armed and dangerous ang suspect. Considering na damo pamalay and disadvantage on their part na indi sila familiar sa exit routes and dulom pa,” he added.

Police recovered during the operation five grams of suspected shabu worth P34,000, a lighter, and a pair of scissors.

Catalogo said the suspect may face additional charges for the incident, aside from his drug charges.

The suspect is a newly identified street-level individual, according to Catalogo.