Bicol Region. INQUIRER FILES
LEGAZPI CITY — A suspected drug trader was killed while two others were arrested in separate buy-bust operations in the Bicol region on Saturday and Sunday (March 11 and 12).
In a belated report on Monday, Lt. Col. Maria Luisa Calubaquib, spokesperson for the Bicol police, said Jose Januz Francisco, 39, an employee of the local government of Masbate City in Masbate province, died in an armed confrontation during a buy-bust operation in Barangay (village) Poblacion in Cataingan town at 11:25 p.m. on Saturday.
Francisco reportedly resisted arrest and shot the police operative twice, prompting the lawmen to retaliate, said Calubaquib.
The suspect sustained gunshot wounds and was brought to Cataingan District Hospital but declared dead.
Calubaquib said two sachets of “shabu” (crystal meth) worth P20,000 were recovered from Francisco.
In Naga City in Camarines Sur province, Junie Arroyo, 48, was arrested after allegedly selling a sachet of shabu worth P5,000 in Barangay Del Rosario at 3:30 p.m. on Sunday.
Confiscated from Arroyo were a total of 10 grams of shabu worth P68,000, five improvised glass toother, a weighing scale and other drug tools, said Senior Master Sergeant Tobias Bongon, Naga City police spokesperson.
In Tabaco City, Albay province, Rey Lunas, 29, was also arrested in Barangay Salvacion at 2:34 p.m.
Calubaquib said a sachet of shabu worth P5,984 was confiscated from Lunas.
The suspects were facing charges of violations of the Comprehensive Dangerous Drugs Act of 2002. INQ