Suspect dead in Pangasinan drug op shootout

MANILA, Philippines — A suspect was killed after a shootout with authorities in Urdaneta City, Pangasinan, the Philippine National Police Drug Enforcement Group (PNP DEG) said.

The armed encounter stemmed from a drug operation on Tuesday night, the PNP DEG detailed in a statement on Wednesday.

Police identified the suspect only as “Dupax.”

Authorities confiscated 40 grams of suspected shabu (crystal meth) valued at P272,000 during the initial operation.

READ: P28.6-M Parañaque drug bust leaves suspect dead, 4 PDEA agents hurt

The PNP DEG did not detail how the situation escalated into an armed encounter.

However, police did say the suspect was brought to the Urdaneta City District Hospital for treatment but was pronounced dead by the attending physician.

“While it is never our objective for any operation to end in loss of life, we were faced with a dangerous situation that required immediate and decisive action to protect ourselves and the public,” PNP DEG Director Brig. Gen. Jason Capoy said in the statement. /cb