Police asset, drug suspect shot dead

MANILA, Philippines — A man said to be involved in drugs and a police asset were killed in Makati on Saturday.

Suspected drug pusher Kevin Ersando, alias Scarface, and Michael Erlinda Betcher, 45, were shot dead during a sting along J.P. Rizal street in Barangay Cembo.

Prior to this, police said Betcher managed to buy P500 worth of shabu from Ersando.

When Ersando sensed that Betcher was accompanied by police, the suspect fired at the informant.

Police retaliated, killing Ersando at the scene.

Authorities said they recovered from Ersando a .38-caliber handgun, a hand grenade, 15 sachets of shabu and the marked money.

Five other drug suspects were nabbed in Makati. They were Rodan de Leon, 42; Jeoffrey Alejandro, 38; Nico Franco Camero, 43; Joel Barbosa, 25, and Joemeric Mabbago, 48.

Police said the suspects tagged Ersando as the source of illegal drugs in the area.

In Quezon City, 12 persons were collared in separate anti-narcotics operations that yielded P250,000 worth shabu.

The suspects were rounded up in Barangays E. Rodriguez, Sto. Domingo, Apolonio Samson, Greater Fairview and Masambong. – Romina Cabrera