Another ‘drug cop’ killed in Laguna

INQUIRER.net stock photo

SAN PEDRO CITY – Another police officer was killed in a buy-bust operation in Biñan City in Laguna province on Monday afternoon.

Police Officer 1 (PO1) Anthony Bautista, 38, was the second member of the Philippine National Police killed after PO3 Jennyson Serrano died in an alleged shootout last week.

But unlike Serrano who still reported to duty in Sta. Cruz town until the time of his death, Bautista had been on absence without leave (AWOL), said Laguna police director Sr. Supt. Eleazar Matta. It was not immediately known for how long he had been AWOL.

In a text message, Matta said members of the intelligence police unit carried out the operation around 2:45 p.m. in Barangay (village) San Vicente.

He said Bautista resisted arrest by firing his gun, prompting other policemen to shoot back and kill him. The police recovered a .38 caliber gun from the slain suspect.

Matta said Bautista was involved in the illegal drug trade in Biñan and in this city.

“He allegedly disposed 100 grams to 500 grams of ‘shabu’ (crystal meth) per week, according to some (people earlier) arrested by the Laguna (police),” Matta’s report read.

The Laguna police on Friday and Saturday conducted a simultaneous anti-drug operation in Laguna that left dead seven suspects, among them Serrano.