Barangay chief in Samar killed in police drug ops

TACLOBAN CITY, Philippines —A second termer barangay chairman was killed yesterday in a police anti-illegal drug operations, just beside the barangay hall at Barangay Guindapunan in San Jorge town of Samar, according to the police.

Superintendent Harri Sucayre, head of the Regional Drug Enforcement Unit (RDEU) of the Police Regional Office-8, told The Philippine Star/The Freeman that around 9:35 a.m. yesterday, a composite team of anti-drug operatives shot dead on the spot Barangay Chairman Louie Nening, who was listed number 2 in the Samar Police Provincial Office’s high-value targets.

Nening was the first one who drew his gun and fired at the police raiding team, which he apparently noticed while he was transacting a drug buy with an undercover policeman.

"We have no choice but to also defend our lives, and also shot back at him. It was very clear that we neutralized Barangay Chairman Nening during the exchange of gunfire, besides hitting him with several gunshot wounds, during a buy-bust operation," Sucayre added.

Nening was actually the village chief of Bulao in the same San Jorge town, but he was at Guindapunan during the buy-bust.

As of press time, the body of Nening was taken to the Gandara District Hospital in Samar hospital for autopsy.

Nening was the 83rd high-value target of the police who died during anti-illegal drugs operations, from January to this day this year, based on records of the PRO-8. (FREEMAN)