Man on ‘plea bargain’ for drug case killed in Laguna buy-bust

SAN PEDRO CITY, Philippines – A suspected drug pusher was killed in a police operation in Lumban, Laguna, early on Tuesday.

Senior Supt. Eleazar Matta, Laguna police director, in a text message, identified the suspect as Julio Yasona, of Barangay Concepcion.

He said Yasona was on “probation” after entering into a plea bargain agreement with the court for a previous drug case.

Matta said members of the Laguna drug enforcement unit conducted the buy-bust at about 12:30 a.m. in the said village.

After selling a sachet of suspected drugs (crystal meth) worth P500, the suspect allegedly drew and fired a .45-caliber pistol.

This prompted the police officers to return fire and kill the suspect, Matta said.

Yasona sustained multiple gunshots. He died on the spot. /cbb