CEBU, Philippines - Seven people were arrested while one man was killed in separate buy-bust operations in Cebu City and Lapu-Lapu City over the past two days.
In Barangay Luz, Cebu City, last Friday evening, a street-level pusher was killed during a buy-bust operation conducted by the Philippine Drug Enforcement Agency-7.
PDEA-7 Spokeswoman Leia Albiar said Eddie Apura, a resident of Luz, was shot dead by PDEA agents after he pulled out his .45 cal. pistol after agents tried to arrest him.
Agents recovered four packs of suspected shabu valued at P25,300, assorted drug paraphernalia, and the .45 cal. pistol with seven live rounds from Apura.
His death brings to six the number of alleged drug personalities killed in PDEA-7 operations in August alone.
Just last Wednesday evening, a 17-year-old Kian Loyd Delos Santos, a Grade 11 student, was killed in an alleged legitimate operation of the police in Caloocan City, after allegedly trying to shoot it out with them.
However, witnesses said he was shot even after he had already surrendered.
Cebu City Police Office Director Senior Superintendent Joel Doria assured the public that this will never happen in their operations here.
“So far, mostly ng mga operations natin ay nagsu-surrender naman kaya marami tayong recovered na baril, successful ‘yung operation nahuhuli natin ‘yung suspect and importante kasi ‘yun kasi we can get more information as to the source,” said Doria.
Meanwhile in Barangay Calamba, Cebu City, Dario Trazona, 23; and Stephane Abellanoza, 19, both residents of Barangay Quiot-Pardo, Cebu City, were arrested by policemen in a buy-bust operation last Friday.
Trazona was seized with eight packs of suspected shabu and a .22 cal. pistol with live rounds, while Abellanoza yielded six packs of suspected shabu valued at P394,238.
In Lapu-Lapu City, three high-value targets were nabbed in two buy-bust operations in Barangay Marigondon last Saturday dawn.
The arrested suspects were identified Glen dela Rosa, 38; Robelis Oyao, 32; and Jose Vincent Jumao-as, 26.
Also arrested were their cohorts Elmer Lawas, 28; and Elvis Aton, 28.
Policemen also rescued a 15-year-old minor allegedly involved in selling drugs.
The operation yielded 44 packs of suspected shabu valued at P55,216. —/BRP (FREEMAN)