Drug pushing suspect killed, cop hurt in police operation in San Carlos City

FILE PHOTO of shabu confiscated by the Philippine National Police

BACOLOD CITY, Negros Occidental — A suspected drug peddler was killed while two others, including a policeman, were wounded during a surveillance operation of the province’s Anti-Illegal Drugs Special Operations Task Force (AIDSOTF) on Sunday morning.

John Gerald Esconde was shot dead while Police Officer 2 Carlo Mahinay was shot and wounded in an exchange of fire between the group of Esconde and Mahinay after the cop caught Esconde and three others holding a pot session in Barangay 6, San Carlos City in Negros Occidental about 10:30 a.m.

Mahinay, an operative of AIDSOTF, managed to shoot at Esconde and Jerome Collantes, 24, despite a gunshot wound in the nape, said  Senior Supt. William Señoron, provincial police director of Negros Occidental.

Other policemen arrived to rescue Mahinay and rounded up the suspects, he added.

Esconde, 26, who was in the police list of drug personalities, died upon arrival at  the San Carlos District Hospital.

Collantes, 24, was brought to the same hospital while the other suspect – Roselle Palma, 30 – was arrested.  SFM