Alleged drug pusher killed in Lucena buy-bust

LUCENA CITY – Police killed an alleged drug pusher in a buy-bust operation here early Monday, police said.

Local drug enforcement unit killed Dennis Valles, 38, when he reportedly resisted arrest after he sold “shabu” (crystal meth) to an undercover policeman in Barangay (village) Cotta around 4:55 a.m., Lucena police chief Supt. Reydante Ariza said in a report.

According to the report, a police officer was about to apprehend Valles when he grabbed a caliber .38 revolver and shot the policeman. But Valles missed hitting the arresting officer. Then a fellow policeman fired at Valles, who died on the spot.

Authorities recovered the suspect’s firearm as well as five plastic sachets containing about 2.30 grams of shabu with an estimated value of around P4,250.

Police said the suspect was a former detainee on theft charges but started selling shabu after his release from prison. /kga