Cop, suspected pusher killed in drug bust

MANILA, Philippines - A police officer and a suspected drug pusher were killed in a shootout that occurred during a drug bust in Caloocan City Sunday night.

Senior Superintendent Jude Wilson Santos, city police chief, identified the slain officer as PO3 Lauro de la Cruz of the Station Anti-Illegal Drugs Special Operations Unit (SAID-SOU).

“Our man died a hero’s death. They (drugpushers) are wrong if they think we will be afraid of them. (De la Cruz’s death) it will not deter us from pursuing and nailing them down. We will do our work and with even more determination,” Santos told The STAR as he admitted that the criminals in the area are “getting bolder.”

De la Cruz sustained at least three gunshot wounds in the body but was able to fire back at his killer before going down.

Santos said he is recommending a posthumous promotion for the fallen officer.

Bagong Silang police station commander Superintendent Carlito Dimalanta, in an initial report, said suspect Rolando Belano Estrella was a resident of Barracks Tala in North Caloocan.

The STAR also gathered that Estrella was a former bank security officer, but Santos said the information has yet to be confirmed.

Senior Inspector Ronald Perilla, the Caloocan police’s Station Investigation and Detective Management Bureau chief, said Estrella was “a former bodyguard of a Cabinet secretary.”

Estrella was shot dead by De la Cruz’s colleagues after he gunned down De la Cruz.

De la Cruz and Estrella were both taken to the nearby Dr. Jose Rodriguez Memorial Medical Center in Tala, where they were pronounced dead on arrival.

PO3 Julian Chavez said the shooting broke out around 7:45 Sunday night at CBY street as the operatives were conducting a follow up operation in the area.

Estrella reportedly drew his firearm as the lawmen approached and fired at De la Cruz, who was leading the team.

Recovered from the crime scene were the suspect’s 9 mm pistol and several shells. – With Pete Laude