High-value drug target killed in Cavite buy-bust

MANILA, Philippines — A high-value drug target (HVT) was killed when a buy-bust operation turned bloody after an exchange of gunfire between him and police officers in Bacoor City, Cavite.

Bacoor City police chief Lt. Col. Vicente Cabatingan identified the alleged drug pusher as Joseph Alvin Perez, alias Jap, who died in a police operation Wednesday, two days after the arrest of his live-in partner also for allegedly selling drugs.

Officers of the Station Drug Enforcement Unit of the Bacoor City police and elements from the Philippine Drug Enforcement Agency in Cavite launched the buy-bust at 4:10 p.m. in Barangay Molino III, according to a police report.

Police said that during the operation, the suspect handed a sachet of suspected “shabu” (crystal meth) to an undercover buyer before pulling out a gun and opening fire upon noticing that he transacted with a policeman.

The suspect, however, missed his target.

Police said back-up officers warned the suspect to surrender but he continued to fire, prompting authorities to retaliate, leading to his death.

Seized at the crime scene were a caliber .45 pistol and undetermined amount of suspected “shabu.”

Two other suspects namely Jude Declaro and Mark Angelo were arrested.

According to police, Perez was the live-in partner of a woman previously arrested for allegedly selling around 60 grams of illegal drugs worth around P408,000.