Drug suspect slain in Laguna

SAN PEDRO CITY —A suspected member of an illegal drug group in Laguna was killed in a shootout in Pagsanjan town on Wednesday afternoon.

The suspect was identified as Rey Agawin Conde, who was in the police’s watchlist for illegal drugs, according to Senior Supt. Eleazar Matta, Laguna police director.

Matta said the police went to Conde’s residence in Barangay Pinagsanjan for a buy bust operation around 3 p.m.
But after selling  a sachet of suspected shabu (crystal meth) to undercover officers, Conde reportedly drew out a gun and fired.

The policemen returned fire and killed Conde.

Matta said the suspect was allegedly a member of the so-called Rana drug group that operated in the next town of Lumban.

Conde had been previously arrested for drug charges but was released after pleading to a lesser offense under the government’s plea bargaining agreement. /ee