Cops kill alleged drug ring boss in Laguna shootout

SAN PEDRO CITY – The alleged leader of an illegal drug and crime gang was killed in a shootout with policemen in this city on Thursday.

In a text message, city police chief Supt. Giovannie Martinez said law enforcers conducted a buy-bust operation around 12:30 a.m. that targeted Gaudencio “Denden” Rojo III, leader of the Rojo Drug Group, inside Harmony Homes Subdivision in Barangay (village) San Vicente.

After selling drugs to undercover operatives, Rojo apparently sensed he was dealing with policemen that he purportedly suddenly pulled his gun and fired at authorities. This prompted police to shoot back, hitting Rojo, who died while being brought to Amante Hospital.

Through the buy-bust, police obtained two sachets of suspected crystal meth or shabu from the suspect. Additionally, police said they recovered seven more sachets of the illegal item from Rojo when he was already in the hospital. Police further recovered a .45 caliber-gun from the suspect.

According to Laguna police director Sr. Supt. Kirby Kraft, Rojo’s group was behind the series of robberies and narcotics trade in the city.

Kraft said that aside from previous robbery cases, Rojo was also the police’s prime suspect in the 2013 killing of businessman and gunsmith Eric Bugarin.   /kga