9 Batangas cops sacked over drug suspect’s slay

CAMP VICENTE LIM, Laguna, Philippines — A police chief and eight of his men have been relieved from their posts in connection with the killing of a drug suspect at the boundary of Tiaong, Quezon and San Juan, Batangas on May 28.

Lt. Col. Jesus Lintag of the San Juan police and his men have been reassigned at the Provincial Personnel Holding Center.

Lt. Col. Rommel Sobrido was named San Juan police officer-in-charge.

Brig. Gen. Paul Kenneth Lucas, Calabarzon police director, ordered a special investigation team to determine if the police officers violated the standard operating procedure and if there were irregularities in the performance of their duties.

Bryan Laresma, alias Balot, was killed in an alleged shootout with anti-narcotics operatives in Barangay Lipahan.

Two sachets of shabu, a caliber .38 revolver and bullets were reportedly recovered from the fatality.

Laresma’s relatives sought the assistance of the National Bureau of Investigation for a new autopsy of the suspect. They also asked the Commission on Human Rights and House of Representatives to conduct parallel probes.

Laresma was about to alight from his motorcycle when he was shot, according to his brother.

Lintag maintained that the operation was legitimate, adding that he and his men are open to any investigation.

Meanwhile, a “high-value“ suspect in the illegal drug trade in Central Visayas was arrested in Cebu City on Friday night.

Jhon Rexcer Villacorte, 22, was apprehended in Barangay Pahina Central, Philippine National Police Drug Enforcement Group director Brig. Gen. Eleazar Matta said.

Around 200 grams of shabu with an estimated value of P1.36 million were reportedly recovered from the suspect.

In Rizal, police said 62 grams of shabu valued at P421,600 were seized from Jonathan Buckhingham, 32, who was arrested in Barangay Sta. Ana in Taytay.

An alias Denggoy and alias Gerald were arrested in Barangay San Andres in Cainta for possession of shabu worth P170,000, according to the Calabarzon police. — Emmanuel Tupas