3-year-old girl hit in drug buy-bust crossfire dies

SAN PEDRO CITY, Laguna, Philippines — A three-year-old child who was caught in a crossfire between suspected drug pushers and police officers in Rodriguez town in Rizal province died on Sunday (June 30).

The child, Myka Ulpina, was one of the four who died in the gunfight, along with Senior Master Sgt. Conrad Cabigao.

Also killed were the target of the police buy-bust operation, Renato Dolofrina and his still unidentified male companion.

Ulpina was the daughter of Dolofrina.

According to a police report, the officers conducted the buy-bust around 7:40 a.m. Saturday, June 29, at Dolofrina’s house in Barangay San Jose.

Cabigao went undercover to buy crystal meth, locally called shabu, when Dolofrina’s companion realized it was a sting operation.

Police said Dolofrina fired his gun and picked up and used his daughter as “shield” as the police officers returned fire.

Both suspects died instantly, while Cabigao and the child died at a hospital. —Maricar Cinco

(Editor: Tony Bergonia)