DAVAO CITY (MindaNews / 13 March)— A drug suspect in possession of crystal methamphetamine or shabu worth P540,000 died after he resisted arrest during a buy-bust operation in Barangay Maa here Tuesday evening, police said.
Capt. Hazel Tuazon, Davao City Police Office spokesperson, said in a report that the incident took place at Purok 42, Midland Village in Barangay Maa.
The suspect was identified only by his alias “Bentong,” of legal age, wearing black T-shirt, and multi-colored shorts. He reportedly fought with a police officer acting as poseur buyer during the sale of a five-gram shabu for P14,000.
Tuazon said the weight of the confiscated shabu was estimated at 30 grams.
She said that when the police officer introduced his authority, “Bentong” immediately drew a gun from his sling bag and shot the law enforcer but missed, which prompted the police officer to return fire, hitting the suspect.
Tuazon said that as of 1 p.m. on Wednesday, authorities have yet to identify the name of the suspect.
She added that police authorities brought the suspect to Southern Philippines Medical Center but efforts to revive him were futile as his attending physician, Dr. Jerwin Rodriguez, declared him dead at 9:05 p.m.
Tuazon said that personnel of the Davao City Forensic Unit recovered from the scene one caliber .38 revolver with three fired cartridge cases, two pieces of live ammunition, and two fired cartridge cases of a caliber 9mm pistol.
She said authorities searched the body of the suspect and recovered from his possession five medium-sized heat-sealed transparent plastic sachet containing suspected shabu, 13 pieces of computer-printed copies of P1000 bills, mobile phone, P200 personal money of the suspect, and sling bag. (Antonio L. Colina IV / MindaNews)
