Drug suspect shot dead

A man said to be a member of a small group of drug pushers in Quezon City was killed in a shootout with police Tuesday afternoon.

Baybayan Alibar, alias “Al Negro,” 31, died on the spot due to multiple gunshot wounds he sustained during the shootout that occurred after he opened fire at members of the Quezon City Police District (QCPD) during an entrapment operation in Barangay Culiat.

A joint team from the QCPD’s District Anti-Illegal Drugs-Special Operations Task Group and District Police Intelligence Operating Unit conducted the operation.

At past 1 p.m., the team led by Senior Inspector Roderick Medrano went to the Salam Mosque Compound in Barangay Culiat to stage the buy-bust operation.

Police Officer 2 Joseph Ortiz posed as a buyer and gave P1,000 supposedly as payment for a plastic sachet containing methamphetamine hydrochloride or “shabu.” When the transaction was consummated, police operatives were given a signal to arrest Alibar.

However, the suspect, sensing that he was going to be arrested, pulled out a .45 caliber pistol and opened fire at Ortiz. Luckily, the police officer was not hit by the gunshots.

Alibar ran towards his house on Maguindanao Street and climbed toward the roof, from which he again shot at the team of policemen.

A gun battle ensued, leaving Alibar dead with multiple gunshot wounds in different parts of his body.

PO1 Alexander Jimenez said Alibar belonged to a group of drug pushers in Barangay Culiat.

“According to our informants, it is not really an organized drug syndicate but a small group involved in drug-peddling,” Jimenez told The STAR in an interview.

Jimenez said police are now doing follow up operations against other individuals suspected to be members of the group.     – Reinir Padua