‘Nanlaban’ drug suspect killed in Tarlac

Scene of Crime Operatives inspect the motorcycle used by a drug suspect, who was killed June 19 in a reported shootout with policemen in Tarlac City. (Photo from the Tarlac Police Provincial Office)

MABALACAT CITY, Pampanga—A suspected drug trader died in an alleged armed encounter with the police during a buy-bust operation in Tarlac City, police said Monday, June 21.

Col. Renante Cabico, Tarlac provincial police director, identified the slain suspect as Ryan Conrad Dare, who was on the police watch list.

Cabico said the suspect sold P1,000 worth of “shabu” (crystal meth) to an undercover agent in Barangay Cutcut around 10:45 p.m. on June 19.

Investigators said the suspect engaged the lawmen in a gunfight when he sensed that he was transacting with an undercover agent.

The police recovered a 9mm-caliber pistol loaded with three live bullets, four fired cartridges, the marked peso bill used in the sting operation, and two more sachets of suspected shabu from the crime scene.