Drug suspect slain in motel buy-bust

CEBU, Philippines - A drug suspect was killed after he allegedly resisted arrest during a buy-bust operation in a motel in Barangay Mabolo, Cebu City, last Monday night.

Jay Jareño Sanchez, a resident of Barangay Matab-ang, Toledo City, was shot after he allegedly tried to shoot a poseur-buyer around 8:20 p.m.

Police Superintendent Joel Quintero, deputy officer of the Regional Intelligence Division-7 and chief of Regional Special Operations Group, said they seized from Sanchez three medium pack of suspected shabu, and a .22 cal. revolver loaded with live rounds.

After selling drugs to the man he believed was his client, Sanchez reportedly realized he was dealing with police and aimed his revolver at the poseur-buyer, but responding police personnel shot him first.

Quintero said they recovered from Sanchez the marked money worth P3,000. Sanchez was rushed to the Mandaue City Hospital but declared dead on arrival.

 The worth of the confiscated shabu has yet to be determined as it has not been examined by the PNP Crime Laboratory.

This is the second police operation happened inside a motel this month.Last September 6, three men from Cordova town were apprehended by Lapu-Lapu City Police Office inside a motel in Barangay Pajo, Lapu-Lapu City. More than P200,000 worth of suspected shabu was seized from them.

Police Senior Inspector Joey Bicoy of LCPO- City Intelligence Branch said they arrested Romeo Amistad, Valeriano Degamo and Elmer Tagsip in one of the motel's rooms. The three reportedly sold drugs in Lapu-Lapu City and Cordova.

Police said some drug peddlers choose to transact in hotels to shield their illegal transactions from police surveillance. (FREEMAN)