Drug, crime suspect dead in Cavite buy-bust

SAN PEDRO CITY – A suspected criminal was killed in an anti-drug operation in Rosario, Cavite on Tuesday.

Chief Insp. Dhefry Punzalan, Rosario police chief, identified the suspect as Antonio Ledesma, 26.

Ledesma was included in the police watchlist for drugs. He was also allegedly involved in a series of robberies as well as in the shooting of a certain Joel Mallari in Barangay Silangan 1 on February 4.

In a message, Punzalan said the police conducted a buy-bust operation targeting Ledesma at 12:15 a.m. in Barangay Ligtong III.

After selling a sachet of suspected shabu (crystal meth) to undercover police, the suspect reportedly drew and fired his .45-caliber gun.

The police returned fire and hit Ledesma, who died on the way to a hospital.

Police said they recovered a pink coin purse that contained four more sachets of alleged shabu. Maricar Cinco /lzb