By Glazyl Y. Masculino
BACOLOD City – An alleged drug suspect was killed in a shootout with the police during a buy-bust operation at Barangay Magatas, Sibulan, Negros Oriental yesterday.
The operation also led to the recovery of P13.7 million worth of suspected shabu.
A report from the Negros Oriental Police Provincial Office (Norppo), said that Jomarie Manayon Yongco, 26, of Barangay Rizal, San Carlos City, Negros Occidental, was subjected to surveillance after police received information from a reliable source about his alleged engagement in illegal drug trade and that he will be transporting the contraband soon in the province.
This prompted the Provincial Drug Enforcement Unit (PDEU) to conduct the buy-bust operation, along with the Regional Drug Enforcement Unit (RDEU)-7, Philippine Drug Enforcement Agency (PDEA), and Sibulan Municipal Police Station.
Yongco, according to a police report, sold about 25 grams of suspected shabu to a police agent during the drug bust.
But the suspect noticed the movement of the law enforcer, prompting him to pull his gun and fire at the police operatives as he tried to escape.
The operatives retaliated, hitting the suspect on the different parts of his body which led to his immediate death.
During the search, authorities recovered from Yongco a .45-caliber pistol, more sachets of suspected shabu weighing 2,025 grams and valued at P13,770,000.
Colonel Arnel Banzon, officer-in-charge of Norppo, expressed his gratitude to the concerned individual who divulged the information to the police.
He encouraged the people to be more vigilant against all forms of criminality.
