Drug trader wounded in buy-bust shooting

CEBU, Philippines – A 43-year-old alleged drug trader was wounded after threatening to shoot the responding police officers in order to escape buy-bust operation past 10 p.m. last Friday in Purok Radar, Barangay Babag Dos, Lapu-Lapu City.

The suspect was identified as Alvin Legaspi, a resident of Purok Rambo in the same barangay, who was shot wounded on his left shoulder after pointing a firearm to the anti-illegal drug group, according to Police Senior Inspector Rogelio Pineda Jr. of the Lapu-Lapu City Police Office  City Intelligence Branch.

The police conducted the operation around 10:30 wherein a police poseur buyer handed P200 to Legaspi in exchange for an alleged small pack of illegal substance.

The suspect, according to Pineda, resisted when police came to the scene to arrest him and reportedly pulled out a gun.

Legaspi surrendered after one of the responding officers shot him to prevent his escape.

The suspect, whose illegal activity was monitored in one month, was immediately brought to Vicente Sotto Memorial Medical Center and was brought yesterday to LLCPO detention cell.

A medium-size suspected shabu and 15 small packs of illegal drugs with an estimated street value of P30,000 were confiscated, together with other drug paraphernalia.

Along with the drug-related items, a .45 unlicensed caliber with a bullet storage containing six live ammunition was confiscated, together with the amount of P5,500 and a black cellphone unit.

The items recovered have been submitted to Regional Crime Laboratory for examination,  according to Police Officer 1 Efren Labiste of CIB.

The suspect will face a complaint against Republic Act 9165 or Comprehensive Dangerous Drugs Act of 2002 on Monday.