P20 million shabu seized in Ormoc sting; suspect slain

TACLOBAN, Philippines — Shabu with an estimated street value of P20 million was seized in a sting that resulted in the death of a drug suspect in Ormoc, Leyte at dawn yesterday.

Police identified the fatality as Allan Bulahan, alias Allan Tigbas Gorio, allegedly a major drug supplier in the city.

Bulahan reportedly sold shabu worth P100,000 to an undercover agent at around 1 a.m. in Barangay Tambulilid.

The suspect allegedly drew his gun after sensing that he was dealing with an undercover agent, triggering a shootout that resulted in his death.

Police said they found a kilo of shabu and drug paraphernalia in an ecobag owned by Bulahan as well as the marked money used in the sting.

Another seven packs of shabu were reportedly found in the sling bag of the suspect.

Meanwhile, in Cagayan, anti-narcotics agents seized P1.2 million worth of illegal drugs from two suspects in Claveria town.

The Philippine Drug Enforcement Agency (PDEA) said seven kilos of marijuana and 60 grams of shabu, with estimated street values of P720,000 and P408,000, respectively, were seized from Reygiene Rangpas and Dennis Brioso.

PDEA-Cagayan Valley chief Levi Ortiz said Rangpas and Brioso were high-value targets. – Ralph Edwin Villanueva