Suspected drug pusher killed in Batangas buy bust

SAN PEDRO CITY-A suspected drug pusher was killed in a shootout with authorities in Bauan town in Batangas, police said Thursday.

A report from the police regional headquarters said the suspect, Chester Manalo, was the target of a buy bust operation conducted by a police team from Bauan and the adjacent town of San Pascual last Wednesday at around 10:45 p.m. in Barangay (village) Poblacion 4.

But during the bust, police said Manalo pulled out a gun and fired at the police officers, triggering a shootout.

Manalo sustained gunshot wounds and was taken to a hospital but died along the way, police said.

Seized from Manalo were nine sachets of suspected shabu (crystal meth), a plastic bag filled with suspected marijuana and a .45 caliber pistol.  /muf