Suspected drug pusher dead, 7 others nabbed in drug stings in Bicol

LEGAZPI CITY –– An alleged illegal drug pusher was killed and seven others were arrested by police anti-narcotics agents on Thursday in separate drug stings in the provinces of Albay, Camarines Sur, and Masbate, a police report said Friday.

Major King Calipay, administrative officer at Albay police, said Francis Xavier Del Rosario, 44, of Barangay Batang in Ligao City, was killed in a shootout with police in Ligao Pension House in Barangay Sta. Cruz at 5:20 p.m.

Calipay said Del Rosario, sensing that the transaction was a police set-up, drew his handgun, forcing the police to fire at him.

Del Rosario was taken to a nearby hospital but died on the way there.

During the same buy-bust operation, Carla Marbella, 22, Del Rosario’s companion, was arrested at the pension house.

Seized were several sachets of suspected shabu (crystal meth).

In Naga City, police nabbed Carlo Llantero, Nickie Gianan, and John Darcy while selling suspected shabu to an undercover police agent in Barangay Mabulo, at 5:10 p.m., Major Maria Luisa Calubaquib, Bicol police spokesperson said.

The police seized from the suspects three sachets weighing 10 grams of shabu with a street value of P68,000 and a .38 caliber revolver.

In a subsequent drug sting in Calabanga town, Camarines Sur, Richard Ian Cunanan, and Wilfredo Briñas Jr. were caught selling shabu in Barangay Sabang at 9:20 p.m.

Seized were eight sachets of shabu and drug paraphernalia.

In San Jacinto town in Masbate, police arrested Ruth Grafilo, 47, while selling suspected shabu in Barangay District 4 at 4:15 p.m.

Seized were six sachets of shabu. (Editor: Leti Boniol)