2 slain in P210.8 million drug bust

MANILA, Philippines — Two suspected drug pushers were shot dead by police during a sting that yielded around 31 kilos of shabu valued at P210.8 million in Las Piñas City on Tuesday night.

Jen Jieko Amarga and Andrew Garcia died at the scene from gunshots to the body.

Amarga and Garcia were killed after they reportedly engaged operatives of the Philippine National Police Drug Enforcement Group and National Capital Region Police Office in a firefight at around 10 p.m., according to PNP chief Gen. Debold Sinas.

The duo allegedly sold one kilo of shabu for P1.5 million to a policeman who posed as a buyer, Sinas said.

The suspects reportedly sourced their drug supply from a Chinese based in Myanmar.

Sinas said the illegal drugs were smuggled into the country and stored in a warehouse in Pampanga.

“Sa tingin namin mga new players sila at nangangailangan ng pera kaya mabilisan ang naging drug deal,” the PNP chief told reporters.

The suspects reportedly fought back when they sensed they were dealing with police.

Police said the drugs were stashed in Chinese tea bags labeled Qing Shan.

Authorities said they recovered two .45-caliber handguns and a Toyota Innova van from the suspects.

The suspects, said to be members of the Sputnik Gang and Amarga drug ring, were allegedly responsible for distributing shabu in Metro Manila, Central Luzon and Calabarzon (Cavite, Laguna, Batangas, Rizal and Quezon).

Sinas said they are investigating whether the illegal drugs have been in the country for quite some time and were released for distribution when quarantine restrictions in the National Capital Region and nearby provinces were eased on Monday.