‘Drug trader’ in Nueva Ecija slain during buy-bust
SAN JOSE CITY –– A suspected illegal drugs trader was killed in a reported shootout with the police during a buy-bust operation in the nearby Science City of Muñoz on Wednesday, authorities said.
Police identified the slain suspect as Robert Downing, alias “Bobet,” who is in the local police drug watch list, according to Lt. Col. Heryl Bruno, this city police chief.
Bruno said Downing, a resident of Barangay Bantug in Muñoz, had been under police surveillance for allegedly selling drugs in this city.
Joint police forces from this city and Muñoz carried out the anti-narcotics operation, which resulted in a gunfight when the suspect fired the first shots while resisting arrest, investigators said.
Police recovered from the suspect 20 sachets of alleged “shabu” (crystal meth), the P1,000 buy-bust money, and ammunition.
Police said the suspect had been operating in Nueva Ecija and adjoining provinces.
