2 suspected drug traders dead in Lucena drug bust

Shootout (RADYO INQUIRER FILE PHOTO/ JONG MANLAPAZ)

LUCENA CITY, Quezon — Two suspected drug pushers were killed in a shootout with policemen here on Saturday night, police said on Sunday.

Senior Supt. Antonio Yarra, Quezon provincial police director, said Jay-R Valera and Willy Labi, both residents of Lucban town in Quezon province, were shot dead by anti-illegal drug operatives led by Chief Insp. Juson Sumibcay following a drug bust in Barangay 4 here.

Yarra said Valera and Labi resisted arrest and engaged policemen in a gunfight when they realized they were dealing with undercover policemen.

Police also arrested Emmanuel Libiran Castro, a companion of the slain suspects.

Police recovered three .45-pistols and bullets from Castro and his slain companions.

Police seized six grams of “shabu” (methamphetamine hydrochloride) worth P11,000 from them.

Yarra said the slain suspects and Castro were on the police’s list of big-time drug pushers in the province.  “They were also serving as goons of local drug syndicates,” he said.  SFM/rga