MANILA, Philippines — A Spanish citizen was killed in a drug bust on Siargao Island on Wednesday while two other drug suspects were shot dead in Bulacan in the past two days.
Brig. Gen. Joselito Esquivel Jr. Caraga police director, said Diego Lafuente, a resident of Barangay 3, General Luna, Surigao del Norte, drew his gun when he sensed he had sold cocaine to undercover agents.
Lafuente was declared dead on arrival at the Siargao Island District Hospital.
Esquivel said 10 grams of cocaine, P30,000 in marked money and a caliber .45 pistol were recovered from the fatality.
He said Lafuente was the most wanted ”high-value” drug suspect in the region.
Authorities are investigating where the suspect got his supply of cocaine.
CHR probe
Jacqueline de Guia, Commission on Human Rights spokesperson, said the CHR would conduct an investigation into the killing of Lafuente, citing reports that the Spanish citizen, said to be a businessman, was killed after he did not give in to extortion demands of police officers.
“The commission maintains its position that the self-defense argument against Lafuente and all other suspects who have been killed in drug-related encounters with the police must be brought to the court,” De Guia said.
She said the probe is in line with the CHR’s mandate to ensure the protection of the rights of migrants and investigate cases of extrajudicial killings.
De Guia said the CHR is supporting the demand of the family and friends of the victim to conduct an autopsy on his body.
Meanwhile, in Bulacan, Col. Emma Libunao, acting Bulacan police director, said Ace Gonzales and Richard Delara shot it out with police officers who posed as buyers of shabu in Barangay Bitungol, Norzagaray on Thursday night and Pandayan, Meycauayan City yesterday morning, respectively.
Libunao said nine sachets of shabu, two .38-caliber revolvers, marked money and drug paraphernalia were recovered from the fatalities.
She said 16 other drug suspects were arrested in simultaneous anti-narcotics operations in Meycauayan, San Jose del Monte, Malolos, Obando, Angat and Sta. Maria.
P18-M shabu, P3-M marijuana
In Bacolod City, more than a kilo of shabu with an estimated street value of P18 million was allegedly recovered from Kenneth Jakosalem, another high-value drug suspect, in Barangay Taculing.
Marijuana plants valued at P3 million that were uprooted in Kibungam, Kapangan and Bakun in Benguet early this week were destroyed on Thursday.
Police said sachets of shabu valued at P200,000 were seized from Aljie Ferrer, 24, in Barangay Tenan, Ipil, Zamboanga Sibugay.