Cop dead, 1 hurt in Cavite drug buy-bust

LUCENA CITY — A policeman was killed, while another cop was wounded in a buy-bust operation that ended in an armed encounter in Dasmariñas City in Cavite province on Tuesday night, report said Wednesday.

Calabarzon (Cavite, Laguna, Batangas, Rizal, Quezon) Police said in a report that anti-illegal drugs operatives conducted a drug sting operation in Barangay (village) Salawag around 9:30 p.m.

Report said one of the suspected drug pushers, Marlon Pacia, sensed that they were dealing with police agents, pulled out a caliber .45 pistol and shot the undercover cops, Police Staff Sergeant Karl Marty Manzanilla and Patrolman Ariel Maribojo.

The two cops sustained bullet wounds and were taken to Dasmariñas City Medical Center but Manzanilla died along the way.

Police said Pacia, Jun-jun Javier, and Jomarie Pacia managed to elude arrest. Police launched a manhunt to arrest the three suspects.

The other drug suspects, Jesabel Cadag, Jemuel Pillar, John Pacia, and John Lloyd Pacia, were arrested.

Report did not indicate the personal relationship between the four suspects surnamed Pacia.

The arrested suspects were detained and are facing corresponding criminal charges.