Drug suspect dead in Patikul, Sulu buy-bust

MANILA, Philippines — Police killed a drug suspect during a buy-bust operation in Patikul, Sulu on Thursday.

A report from the Sulu Police Provincial Office said an undercover agent managed to buy a sachet of suspected “shabu” (crystal meth) from the suspect only identified as alias “Abu” in an operation at around 4:30 a.m in Barangay Gandasuli.

Upon receiving the suspected illegal drugs, the poseur buyer then signaled to his back-up police officers, prompting the suspect to allegedly open fire at the approaching operatives.

Police retaliated, leading to a three-minute gunfight. The suspect, believed to be 31 years old, died on the spot.

Aside from the seized sachet of suspected drugs, police also recovered from the crime scene a .45-caliber pistol and two bullets, another sachet of suspected “shabu,” marked cash, and assorted drug paraphernalia. (Editor: Jonathan P. Vicente)

RELATED STORY

Ex-town traffic chief slain in Laguna buy-bust