Cop who was killed in firearms sting an intelligence agent

MANILA, Philippines — A police intelligence agent, suspected of leading a gun-running ring in the Bicol region, was killed in a shootout with Philippine National Police personnel in a firearms buy-bust operation over the weekend.

Police Brig. Gen. Flynn Dongbo, head of the PNP Integrity Monitoring and Enforcement Group (Imeg), claimed that suspect Police Staff Sergeant Grafilo Pahilino Jr., an intelligence agent of the Placer town police station, also had alleged links with a narcotics syndicate and was allegedly involved in a protection racket for drug offenders.

The PNP-Imeg operation against Pahilino stemmed from verified information that the suspect had been selling loose firearms in Masbate to lawless elements, Dongbo pointed out.

The buy-bust operation, led by the PNP-Imeg Luzon field unit with Bicol and Masbate police personnel, was conducted at around 7 a.m. on Saturday at Barangay Matagangtang in Placer, Masbate.

After completing the exchange, Pahilino apparently sensed he had transacted with an undercover cop and started shooting at the poseur-buyer who was able to duck for cover but not before he was shot in the arm, the initial police report said.

This prompted police officers, poised to arrest him, to fire back and a shootout ensued resulting in Pahilino’s death.

Dongbo said that recovered from the suspect were three .38 revolvers, a .45-caliber pistol and Pahilino’s service 9-millimeter pistol.

Apart from gun-running activities, Dongbo claimed, “[Pahilino was] also monitored being affiliated with the Bustillos drug group for selling illegal drugs.”

“Accordingly, he was the protector of some drug personalities in the areas of Masbate,” he said.