Alleged drug pusher killed in Talisay

CEBU, Philippines - A suspected drug pusher was shot dead by an unidentified perpetrator in Sitio Mananga 2, Barangay Tabunok, Talisay City on Monday evening.

The fatality, identified as Kirk Bacalla, 30, was talking to a certain Rey Rodenas, 40, both residents of the place, when the assailant arrived and starting shooting at the victim, according to PO3 Junyl Ater of the Talisay City Police Station.

Rodenas was also wounded in the process.

Bacalla suffered three gunshot wounds on the different parts of his body which led to his death.

Rodenas, meanwhile, is still recuperating at a hospital.

Police believed that the target of the shooting was Bacalla. They also received reports that Bacalla was into selling illegal drugs in the area and was allegedly engaged in the business of buying stolen items.

Meanwhile, Philippine Drug Enforcement Agency-7 operatives seized P350,000 worth of illegal drugs from a couple in Barangay Sambag, Cebu City last Monday afternoon.

Donnie “Augustus” Abella, 40, along with his common-law partner Apple Gaw, 36, were arrested in a buy-bust operation inside their house, according to PDEA-7 Director Yogi Filemon Ruiz.

Ruiz said Abella and Gaw escaped through the roofs of their neighbors’ houses after PDEA agents identified themselves.

“Silang dalawa sa iyahang asawa, ni-eskapo ngadto sila sa mga atop nag-agi-agi but we were able to (arrest), ato man nabantayan daan (kung) asa ang iyahang agianan. Kato iyahang eskapohanan unta, iyahang layatanan, pag-tanaw niya naay mga PDEA agents, wala na siya ka-eskapo og dayon,” Ruiz said.

Abella was previously arrested by the Special Weapons and Tactics team but managed to escape.

“It’s a good thing kay last time gidakop siya, nisaad kuno siya nga di siya magpadakop og buhi. Atong gipakita nga gidakop nato siya'g buhi,” he added.

Abella is considered a high-value target.

At least 100 grams of suspected shabu, as well as several drug paraphernalia, were confiscated from his possession.

In Lapu-Lapu City, five persons, including a 60-year-old suspected drug pusher, his two brothers and two others, were arrested in separate buy-bust operations conducted by the Lapu-Lapu City police in coordination with the PDEA.

Adelino Abellanosa, 60, a resident of Sitio Ceres, Barangay Gun-ob and said to be engaged in illegal drugs, did not resist arrest.

Senior Inspector Joey Bicoy of the City Intelligence Branch said they arrested Abellanosa immediately after the suspect received the marked money amounting to P500. Among the items seized from him were 11 sachets of drugs.

In Barangay Poblacion, two jobless brothers, Walter and Gerald Del Pilar-Degamo, were also arrested in a buy-bust operation led by Senior Inspector Felix Cleopas III.

In Sitio Mahayahay, Barangay Bankal, a buy-bust also led to the arrest of 22-year-old Guilban Booc.

Chief Inspector Jaime Tolentino said their team was able to confiscate from Booc illegal drugs weighing 30 grams with estimated worth of P354,000.

Booc yielded six large packs of suspected shabu, four tin foil strips, two improvised metal tubes, one improvised tooter and a .45 caliber pistol, magazine, one misfired bullet and ammunition.

In Sitio Casabelle, Barangay Basak, a certain Samuel Ando was arrested while his companion, Ruben Tirol, eluded authorities.

Senior Inspector Alcon Escosura said Tirol sold two small sachets of drugs to a police poseur-buyer but he managed to escape. —/JMD (FREEMAN)