Notorious’ drug pusher slain in Lucena buy-bust

LUCENA CITY – A man, who has been convicted of drug charges, was killed by police after he allegedly fought back during a buy-bust Wednesday night, police said.

Ramon Sotelo, 57, was killed after he reportedly resisted arrest and shot but failed to hit Police Officer 1 John Patrick Leis, who acted as a poseur-buyer in a transaction in Barangay (village) 11 at 7:11 p.m., Senior Supt. Osmundo de Guzman, Quezon police chief, said in a report.

Earlier, Leis and a police asset were able to buy “shabu” (crystal meth) from the suspect, who was tagged a notorious drug pusher in the village and nearby areas.

After the transaction, Leis, who was unarmed, introduced himself as a police officer and was about to arrest Sotelo.

But the suspect reportedly pulled a caliber .38 revolver from his back and shot Leis who was able to run to evade the shooting.

After Sotelo missed his target, another operative PO1 Albert Serrano, retaliated and shot the suspect dead.

The police report said the suspect, who was a former detainee on drug charges, was included in the police drug watch list./lzb