Policeman slain by fellow cops in an illegal gun trade sting in Albay

LEGAZPI CITY –– A police corporal allegedly engaged in the illegal sale of firearms was killed before noon Friday in a shootout during a police entrapment operation in Daraga town in Albay.

Major Maria Luisa Calubaquib, Bicol police spokesperson, said the killed was Corporal Joel Tualla, a resident of Libmanan town in Camarines Sur, who was assigned at Polangui, Albay.

The report said Tualla was selling a .9mm KG9 submachine gun and a .45-caliber pistol to a police undercover agent when he drew his firearm and shot at the undercover cops after sensing it was a set-up.

One of the approaching police operatives, Lt. Nestor Callos Jr., was hit at the back but survived with just a hematoma since he was wearing a bulletproof vest.

The other policemen in the raiding team fired back at Tualla, killing him on the spot.

Recovered from the crime scene were a 9-mm KG-9 with two loaded magazines, a .45-caliber handgun with bullets, a government-issued 9-mm pistol, with fired cartridges, and marked money amounting to P44,000. INQ

LZB