Alleged drug group member dead in Batangas; Cavite cop hurt in buy-bust

SAN PEDRO CITY — An alleged member of an illegal drug syndicate in Batangas province was killed in a police operation in Balayan town, early Friday.

Col. Edwin Quilates, Batangas police chief, identified the slain suspect as Dennis Pantoja, an alleged member of the Maamyog Drug Group.

The police conducted the buy-bust against Pantoja and a still unidentified man in Barangay Caloocan around 2 a.m. Friday, Quilates said in a report.

During the transaction, Pantoja suddenly fired shots, forcing the police to return fire.

Pantoja’s companion escaped on a motorcycle during the commotion.

Pantoja was hit and taken to the Western Batangas Medical Center but died later.

Police recovered a .45-caliber gun and three sachets of suspected “shabu” (crystal meth).

In Bacoor City, Cavite, a police patrolman was hurt when suspected drug pushers Rene Kendayo and Nasrudin Libas attempted to resist arrest around 1:30 p.m. Thursday.

Authorities recovered Kendayo and Libas suspected shabu worth P176,120 and P100,000 suspected drug money.

The Calabarzon police launched a region-wide Simultaneous Anti-criminality and Law Enforcement Operation on Wednesday evening.

At least nine, including Pantoja, had died in separate operations as of Friday morning.