Suspect killed, cop wounded in buy-bust shootout in Zamboanga City

Zamboanga City (Image from Google Maps)

ZAMBOANGA CITY, Zamboanga del Sur, Philippines — A suspected drug courier from Sulu was killed and a police officer was wounded in a shootout during a buy-bust operation on Friday night in a Barangay Maasin here, a coastal village some 13 kilometers from the city center.

The police conducted the operation with some Army soldiers, according to Lt. Leah May Alameda, spokesperson of the Zamboanga City Police Office.

Patrolman Ronevil Batal posed as a buyer of crystal meth, locally known as shabu, from a certain Puruti J. Taraji, also known as Bosing, of Barangay Laum, Maimbung, Sulu.

The transaction took place in a drug supposedly operated by Taraji in Sitio Caragasan of Barangay Maasin.

As the sale was completed, Batal was about to arrest Taraji when the latter drew a gun and shot the police officer, Alameda said.

This prompted the other operatives to shoot Taraji who died on the spot.

Taraji’s two companions rushed towards a motorized boat and fled, firing upon the law enforcers to prevent a pursuit.

Batal suffered a wound on his head and was rushed to a nearby hospital.

Seized from Taraji were four kilos of meth contained in boxes labeled as green tea and a 9-mm caliber gun.

Alameda estimated the meth to be valued at P27.2 million.

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