1 killed, 1 nabbed in Lucena buy-busts

LUCENA CITY – An alleged drug pusher was killed while another person was arrested in separate buy-bust operations in Lucena City early Monday, police said.

Anti-illegal drugs operatives conducted a buy-bust operation against suspected pusher Crisanto Cerganter, 38, in Barangay 4 around 5;20 a.m., according to a report from Supt. Romulo Albacea, Lucena police chief.

After buying shabu (chrystal meth) from Cerganter, the undercover policeman reportedly attempted to arrest the suspect but the latter allegedly resisted and shot the cop with his caliber .38 revolver but missed.

Another operative retaliated and shot the suspect who died on the spot.

The suspect, who was included in the police drug watch list, yielded one plastic sachet of “shabu” (crystal meth) weighing less than one gram with an estimated value of P1,480, according to the Dangerous Drugs Board (DDB).

Earlier, another suspected drug pusher, Antonio Salinguhay, 40, was  nabbed in a separate buy-bust operation in Barangay Kanlurang Mayao around 4:40 a.m.

Authorities seized from the suspect seven plastic sachets of shabu containing less than one gram and valued at P1,110 based on DDB estimate. The suspect was detained at the city police jail.

Police said concerned citizens reported the illegal activities of the two suspects through police hotlines. /ee