MANILA, Philippines — An alleged big-time drug lord and shabu laboratory operator was killed in a police operation in Valenzuela City early Friday.
Philippine National Police Director General Ronald "Bato" Dela Rosa confirmed that Chinese national Meco Tan was among the high-value targets of the police.
"He has been operating here in the Philippines for almost eight years already. He was responsible for putting up drug laboratories, shabu laboratories here in Metro Manila that has been busted," Dela Rosa said in a telephone interview with ANC's Headstart.
The PNP Anti-Illegal Drug Group was supposed to serve a search warrant on Tan in his home in Valenzuela when he fled the area.
A gunfight ensued between Tan and the police after the suspect attempted to escape. The Chinese national was later on killed during the shootout.
Dela Rosa said that seven other Chinese nationals were arrested in Tan's home, where his drug laboratory is also located.
The PNP chief noted that the operation in Valenzuela City proves that the police also goes after high-value targets. Dela Rosa lamented that the police is always being criticized for only apprehending street pushers.
President Rodrigo Duterte earlier said that he wants talks to talk to China about the situation of illegal drug trade in the Philippines.
The president lamented that most of unclaimed remains of alleged drug pushers are Chinese.
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