Quezon City ‘narco-cop’ slain in sting

MANILA, Philippines – A Quezon City Police District (QCPD) official was shot dead after he reportedly sold shabu to undercover police officers in a drug bust yesterday morning.

Senior Inspector Ramon Catillo, 47, was one of the team leaders of the District Anti-Illegal Drug Division, which meant he led operations in the past, said QCPD director Senior Superintendent Guillermo Eleazar. He was assigned to DAID in August 2015.

Eleazar said Catillo was not in the list of police officers believed to be engaged in recycling shabu seized in police operations.

Police officers from the QCPD’s Special Operations Unit (SOU), the Highway Patrol Group’s Task Force Limbas, the Criminal Investigation and Detection Group (CIDG) Quezon City unit and the city hall detachment staged the sting at a fastfood outlet at the corner of Regalado and Commonwealth Avenues, he said.

The informant introduced Senior Police Officer 1 Bernardo Suarez and Police Officer 3 Reynaldo Cenon to Catillo as buyers, said Senior Police Officer 2 Cristituto Zaldarriaga.

After receiving the marked money, Catillo – apparently sensing the deal was a trap – shot at the lawmen and sped away in his Toyota Innova, triggering a running gun battle.

The police officers cornered Catillo in front of the gate of the Sisters of Mount Carmel Catholic School, Zaldarriaga said.

Investigators recovered around 200 grams of shabu, which has a street value of P1 million, from Catillo’s car as well as a 9mm pistol, two magazines, 29 fired 9mm cartridges, six .45 caliber cartridges, three slugs and P10,000 in marked money. – With Cecille Suerte Felipe