Crime gang leader slain in Cavite buy-bust

SAN PEDRO CITY –– A man tagged by the police as a criminal gang leader in Rosario, Cavite was killed in an anti-drug operation, the provincial police chief on Tuesday said.

The slain suspect was identified as Macris Bautista, 37.

Col. Marlon Santos, chief of the Cavite police, said in a report that Bautista led a criminal gang involved in a series of robberies and motorcycle theft.

He said Bautista was also in the town police’s watchlist for suspected drug pushers.

Santos said a police drug enforcement team carried out the buy-bust around 9:45 p.m. on Monday in Barangay Tejeros Convention.

Bautista reportedly handed an undercover police officer a sachet of suspected shabu (crystal meth) but suddenly opened fire when he realized the sting operation.

Police shot back and killed Bautista instantly.

Police said they recovered more suspected drugs worth P35,000 from the suspect. They also found a .45 caliber gun that Bautista allegedly used in the shootout.

LZB