Suspect nabbed 3 years after hurting 2 cops in drug bust

CEBU, Philippines - After almost three years, the remaining suspect in the foiled drug operation last 2006 that left two policemen wounded was arrested by the elements of the Criminal Investigation and Detection Group-7 in Deca Homes, Danao City Thursday noon.

Dante Jalang alias “Dansoy,” was arrested by virtue of a warrant of arrest issued by Regional Trial Court Judge Teresita Abarquez-Galanida of Danao City for illegal drug charges.

After receiving information that Jalang was sighted in Deca Homes, Supt. Ritchie Posadas, CIDG-7 deputy chief, formed a team led by Sr. Insp. Ricky Neron to be dispatched to the area.

When the police swooped down his residence, Jalang got surprised but did not resist arrest and immediately surrendered to the police.

Jalang was identified as one of the two suspects who shot and wounded SPO4 Reynaldo Matillano and PO2 David Enterina, both CIDG-7 operatives, who conducted a buy-bust operation against him and his cohort Jayve Miag-ao. That incident took place in Yati, Liloan on June 16, 2006.

Miag-ao, who was tagged as the gunman, was later killed during a shootout with CIDG-7 operatives in Moalboal town in August of the same year.

Before Miag-ao was killed, Jalang was arrested by the same police unit and was consequently charged for frustrated murder but he was able to post bail.

The court has ordered him arrested again after he reportedly failed to comply with the requirement in posting bail.

It was further learned that Jalang has also a pending warrant of arrest for drug charges with no bail recommended. He was a subject of manhunt operation for four months.

Neron said Jalang’s drug distribution covers the entire Cebu and is already notorious in the said illegal activity.

During the June 2006 incident, Matillano and Enterina, who were posing as buyers of illegal drugs, failed to anticipate that Miag-ao, a suspected drug pusher, was armed with a pistol.

Before they could arrest him, two gunshots rang out. One of the bullets hit Matillano’s abdomen, while the other found its way into Enterina’s left hip and exited through his back. (FREEMAN NEWS)