Alleged drug pusher slain in Lucena drug sting

LUCENA CITY — A drug pusher was shot and killed when he allegedly engaged policemen in a firefight in a buy-bust operation in this city Wednesday night. Anti-illegal drugs operatives shot and killed Pablito Cerion Jr., 34, while conducting a drug sting operation in Barangay (village) Ibabang Iyam around 8:30 p.m., Lucena police chief Lt. Colonel Reydante Ariza, said in a spot report. When Cerion, who was included in the police drug watch list, was about to be arrested, the suspect reportedly drew his caliber .38 gun and shot the policeman while running to escape arrest but missed. Another operative retaliated and shot the suspect who died on the spot. Authorities seized P500 worth of crystal meth or shabu in a plastic sachet, the marked money used in the transaction, and the suspect’s gun.