Mother says son was a marked man: Cops kill "pusher" during drug raid

CEBU – A suspected bigtime drug pusher was shot and killed by policemen who were supposed to implement a search warrant against him early morning yesterday in Cabancalan 1, barangay Bulacao, Cebu City.

Judy Sambroso, also known as Judy Atup, 32, was declared dead on arrival at Cebu City Medical Center due to the gunshot wounds in his left thigh, right foot and right chest.

Initial police investigation disclosed that the policemen, armed with search warrant, were barred from entering Sambroso’s house despite introducing themselves as police officers.

The search warrant was issued by Judge Silvestre Maamo Jr. of Regional Trial Court Branch 17.

Sambroso allegedly refused to open the door of his house, forcing the police to forcibly open it. But Sambroso then reportedly opened fire at the police with an undetermined caliber of firearm, prompting the police to return fire and hit Sambroso.

None of the lawmen were hurt during the encounter.

The operation was reportedly witnessed by barangay tanod Medardo Davin and 25-year-old Mylene Formentera, Sambroso’s pregnant common-law-wife.

Formentera was sleeping in the room of their house together with their two children while Sambroso was sleeping at the sala when the raid took place around 4:30 a.m.

In an interview, Formentera admitted that her husband has been selling marijuana and owned a .38 revolver.

But she said he did not fire first at the police during the incident.

She said that when the police forcibly opened the door of their house, she heard a burst of gunshots from outside.

However, Chief Inspector Aureo Sanchez, chief of Pardo Police Station who was part of the raiding team, told The Freeman that it was Sambroso who first fired at them.

“Pag-abot namo sa ila balay, nanuktok mi, ‘nya nangutana ang suspect kung kinsa mi. Then pag-ingon namo nga mga polis mi unya naa mi search warrant, wala na s’ya mitingog. Siya una nagpabuto kadtong nag-gamit na mi’g pwersa pag-abli sa ila pultahan,” Sanchez said.

“Before mi ning-pullout sa opisina, ako gi-instruct ang ako deputy na tawagan ang taga-PDEA (Philippine Drug Enforcement Agency). Nakig-coordinate mi daan sa taga-PDEA maam before mi mag-conduct sa raid,” Sanchez said.

But Sambroso’s mother Theresa, who resides beside his house, alleged during the interview over dySS Super Radyo that the police intended to kill his son because of the multiple gunshot wounds he sustained.

“Kung dili nila intensiyon patyon, ngano gi-rakrakan man nila? Ug misukol man gani, sa tiil lang unta gipusil. Nganong giapil man ang dughan?” she lamented.

“Ngitngit man gud kaayo ang area maam,” Sanchez said about Theresa’s allegations.

“Igo lang mi nanalipod sa among kaugalingon dihang miuna siya sa pagpamusil,” Sanchez said in an interview over dySS.

The family of Sambroso is set to file a complaint before the Commission on Human Rights. Theresa’s nephew named Joseph reportedly witnessed that Sambroso did not struggle against the police.

Sanchez, however, stated that they are willing to face the family in any investigation, saying that they are confident that their operation was lawful. He also said Sambroso’s family has the right to air its side.

The police were reportedly able to recover from Sambroso’s house 79 pieces of rolled marijuana, P116 cash, dried marijuana leaves, a box containing drug paraphernalia, and nine bundles of rolling paper.

They also recovered a .45 caliber pistol with two magazines, .38 revolver with six live bullets, one .22 revolver with one live bullet, and a 3220 Nokia cell phone.

The pieces of evidence recovered are now in the custody of Pardo Police Station.

The raiding police team was composed of Sanchez, Inspector Ciriaco Cortuna, Senior Police Officer 4 Sanrico Jole-Jole, Police Officer 3 Miguel Enriquez, PO1 Diosdado Parejas, PO1 Henry Abatayo, and PO1 Genilo Yac.

Several personnel from the Mobile Patrol Group also served as backup. — LPM (THE FREEMAN)