Shabu worth P74 million seized:3 die in buy-bust

CEBU, Philippines — Three men were shot dead during a buy-bust operation on Zuellig Avenue at the North Reclamation Area in Mandaue City Tuesday afternoon.

Two of the men died on the spot. Authorities brought the third to the hospital but the suspect did not make it there alive.

Operatives of the Criminal Investigation Branch of the Mandaue City Police Office seized a large pack of shabu and 10 large teabags containing shabu weighing a total of 11 kilos and worth P74 million.

They also recovered a .357 revolver, a .45 pistol, a KG9 submachine gun, and the multicab the three men used.

Mandaue Police Director Jonathan Abella said the suspects noticed they were dealing with authorities in the middle of the transaction, prompting them to open fire.

“Nakabantay man gud sila na ang ilang ka-transact is operatiba nato. Mao tong nibunot gyud ug armas (They noticed that they were transacting with our operatives so they pulled their guns out),” Abella said.

Family members identified one of the suspects as Prince Gem Mapalo, 21, the one who drove the van.

As of yesterday, authorities have yet to confirm the identities of the two other men.  Abella said they have monitored the suspects for quite a while, basing on operations in the past and testimonies of drug suspects who have been arrested.

“Base lang sa gihatag nga information, more than a month base sa follow-up operation, ug sa mga dinakpan sa Mandaue gitudlo nga naa sa Cebu ang ilang source (Based on the information we have and follow-up operation, those we arrested in Mandaue said their source is in Cebu),” he said.

Mapalo’s sibling said her brother does not have any criminal record. She said they were surprised upon learning from their neighbor yesterday that cops reportedly picked her brother up from their place.

“Nahibong nalang ko nga naingon-ani na… nga nawagtang siya sa balay… nangutana ko sa akong igsuon kung naa ba siya didto then naay niingon na silingan nga ‘Day, ang imong igsuon ba, gidala, gi-pick up man to ug mga pulis… then, nangutana ko’g mga police stations, wala man (We’re surprised how this ended up this way… he disappeared from our house… our neighbor told me policemen picked him up but when I asked the police stations, he wasn’t there),” she told The Freeman. —  JMO (FREEMAN)