‘High-value’target killed in shootout

A “high-value” suspect believed to be a member of a gang involved in drug trafficking and killings was shot dead by policemen who were trying to arrest him in Makati City on Wednesday night.

Rolando Abundo Jr., also known as “Bagyo,” was killed in a shootout with  operatives of the National Capital Region Police Office’s Regional Drug Enforcement Unit, Philippine Drug Enforcement Agency and Makati police who went to his house on Taylo Street at Barangay Pio del Pilar.

A police report said that the joint team was about to serve a search warrant issued by Executive Judge Cecilyn Burgos-Villavert of the Quezon City Regional Trial Court Branch 89 when shots were fired from  Abundo’s house. They promptly returned fire, triggering the shootout.

Kin wounded in crossfire

Wounded in the crossfire were two of Abundo’s relatives, Zea Xyrille Ramos and Susan Ramos.

The policemen also arrested six other people who were inside the suspect’s house. They were identified as Rixon Pantoja, Zyvastian Ramos, Danilo Dy, Roy Protacio, Leonell Lumberio and Mark Greg Lajoy. They were taken to the NCRPO headquarters at Camp Bagong Diwa in Taguig City.

The police said they would be charged with illegal possession of drugs, explosives, firearms and ammunition. The six, however, denied their involvement in Abundo’s alleged criminal activities.

Drugs, guns seized

Seized during the raid were packs of “shabu” (crystal meth)  weighing around 500 grams worth P3.4 million, a hand grenade and several high powered firearms, including an M-16 rifle, an improvised .22-caliber  rifle, a homemade M203 grenade launcher, a .40-caliber firearm and a .38-caliber rifle. All the firearms were loaded.

Philippine National Police Director General Oscar Albayalde said that Abundo and his cohorts were members of a criminal gang composed of drug pushers and hitmen operating in southern Metro Manila and Cavite province.

The suspect was also tagged as a high-value drug target who had been the subject of operations conducted by NCRPO and the Southern Police District since 2016. Abundo also had pending cases of murder and physical injury.