1 dead, cop arrested in drug stings

MANILA, Philippines — A suspected drug dealer was shot dead in a sting in Bulacan while a police officer was among those arrested in Luzon and General Santos City on Monday.

Cezar John Mutuc shot it out with anti-drug operatives who tried to arrest him in Barangay Malhacan, Meycauayan at around 3:30 p. m., police said. 

Four sachets of shabu, a .38-caliber revolver and marked money were reportedly recovered from the fatality. 

Also in Bulacan, police said 23 sachets of shabu, a sachet of dried marijuana leaves, drug paraphernalia and marked money were recovered from seven other suspects arrested in San Jose del Monte, Pulilan, Bocaue and Sta. Maria.

Police Officer 1 Arjay Benetero was apprehended after selling sachets of shabu worth P5,000 to undercover agents at a resort in General Santos City, Juvenal Azurin, Philippine Drug Enforcement Agency-Soccskargen chief, said yesterday.

Azurin said anti-drug operatives seized Benetero’s service firearm.

Fruit vendor Allan Rey Loma, 45, a resident of Gen. Mariano Alvarez, Cavite and a “high-value” suspect, was arrested in Barangay Pagdalagan, San Fernando, La Union for alleged possession of P300,000 worth of shabu.  

In Ilocos Sur, security guard Michael Pact was nabbed after he allegedly sold 31 sachets of shabu to police officers who posed as buyers in Barangay Bayubay Sur, San Vicente also on Monday. – John Unson, Raymund Catindig, Jun Elias, Emmanuel Tupas