Alleged dealer killed, 5 others nabbed in Quezon City

MANILA, Philippines - A suspected drug dealer was shot dead and five other drug suspects were arrested in separate operations in Quezon City since Friday night.

A man identified only as Jessie was killed in an alleged shootout in Barangay Nova Proper at around 2:20 a.m. yesterday.

Superintendent Rodelio Marcelo, who heads the Quezon City Police District’s Criminal Investigation and Detection Unit, said 15 police officers from the Novaliches police station went to Austria street to verify a tip that a group of men were selling drugs there.

The group fled upon seeing the lawmen. However, Jessie reportedly shot a police officer, Gerwin Gregorio, who was wearing a protective vest. Police officers retaliated and Jessie died from several gunshot wounds.

Probers recovered a .45 caliber pistol with three bullets and 14 sachets of shabu from the slain suspect.

Also in Quezon City, five persons were arrested in a drug bust in Barangay San Agustin at around 10:30 p.m.

The target of the sting is an apartment on Platinum street that informants allege was being used as a drug den, said Superintendent April Mark Young, Novaliches police station commander.

Police officers raided the apartment after one of the suspects, Agosto Cortez, sold shabu to a policeman posing as a drug buyer.

In his report, Young identified the other suspects who were caught using drugs as  Maribeth Albano, 45; Marvin Bitor, 24; Bryan Christian Ramos, 18, and Melody Sudla, 40.

Seized during the raid were 27 sachets of shabu, a sachet of marijuana and other drug paraphernalia.