Drug suspect killed in shootout during Manila buy-bust

MANILA, Philippines — A suspected drug peddler was shot dead during a gunfight with members of the Manila Police District (MPD) in Quiapo on Tuesday night.

MPD police officers launched the operation against Dolmar Doctolero, a member of the Sigue-Sigue Commando Gang, on  at Carlos Palanca St., Quiapo, Manila.

Police said that Doctolero was a former inmate of the Iwahig Penal Colony, as he was arrested for violating Republic Act 9165 or the “Comprehensive Dangerous Drugs Act of 2002,” as well as for crimes of robbery and holdup.

An undercover policeman posed as a buyer of shabu (crystal meth), which he transacted with the suspect.

When Doctolero sensed that police officers were arriving to arrest him, he drew his gun and opened fire.

The policeman managed to fire shots at Doctolero, who was eventually hit. He was rushed to the Jose Reyes Memorial Medical Center.

However, Doctolero did not survive and was declared dead upon arrival at the hospital.

Recovered from the scene were the suspect’s one Caliber .22 revolver loaded with three pieces of live ammunition and five P100 marked money.

The undercover policeman also recovered two pieces of small heat-sealed transparent plastic sachet containing white crystalline substance believed to be shabu from the suspect.

Edited by JPV