Drug suspect slain in Batangas

SAN PEDRO CITY – A suspected illegal drug pusher was killed, while his companion escaped following a shootout with the police in Mabini, Batangas late Monday night.

Senior Supt. Edwin Quilates, Batangas police director, in a report on Tuesday, identified the slain suspect as Esmeraldo Soria, 30, a resident of Batangas City.

Quilates said undercover policemen conducted a buy-bust operation targeting Soria near a convenience store in Barangay Poblacion around 10:30 p.m.

He said Soria and an unidentified companion must have realized they were dealing with the police. Soria allegedly pushed the police officer before trying to escape onboard a motorcycle.

The police chased the suspects until they reached Barangay San Francisco.

As the motorcycle tried to make a turn, Soria fell off the vehicle and began shooting at the policemen. His companion sped away.

Soria was hit when the police shot back and was rushed to the Mabini General Hospital where he died about an hour later.

The police recovered a .38 caliber gun and 13 sachets of suspected “shabu” (crystal meth). MARICAR CINCO