One killed in drug bust

CEBU, Philippines – A 25-year-old “guard” of a compound, owned by a family suspected of being into shabu trade, was killed in an anti-illegal drugs operation at Banate town of Iloilo.

The operation, led by the Philippine Drug Enforcement Agency-6 with the Banate Police Station, happened at 4:20 a.m. at the Onofre family residence at Barangay Managopaya, 15 kilometers from the Banate town proper and bordering San Enrique town.

PDEA-6 Director Paul Ledesma only confirmed the death of one “target” and the arrest of four, but Senior Inspector Gervinson Moyo, Banate Police chief, said one was killed and two others were deemed arrested.

The fatality was identified as Bernie Gervero, who was hit in the face, with the bullet piercing his mouth through his throat. This happened after a firefight when the operatives tried to enter the Onofre compound, guarded by Gervero.

Those arrested, according to Moyo were Warlito Onofre, 65, his son Wilmar, 26. PDEA-6 considered Onofre’s wife and a 14-year-old boy also arrested. Warlito’s other son Warren, the subject of the raid, escaped.

The raiding team recovered 11 sachets of shabu, a 12-gauge shotgun and a .38-caliber revolver from Onofre’s house.