DAVAO CITY—-A suspected teenage drug pusher was shot dead following a buy-bust operation here early Saturday, the police said.
A kilo of marijuana stuffed inside a black bag was also recovered from the slain suspect, who was identified as 19-year-old John Renner de Jesus, according to Davao City Police spokesperson Senior Inspector Ma. Teresita Gaspan.
Gaspan said the shootout happened during a buy-bust operation carried out by members of the drug enforcement unit (DEU) of Precinct Station number 3 against de Jesus at the corner of Jacinto and Dela Cruz Streets in Barangay 32-D around 12:20 a.m.
Gaspan said during the transaction with an undercover agent, the suspect suddenly drew a caliber 38 pistol and opened fire, prompting other lawmen to fire back, hitting him in different parts of the body.
Responding paramedics from the 911 Emergency Service declared de Jesus dead at the scene of incident.
Gaspan said the police also recovered from the slain suspect a caliber .38 revolver with four bullets and an empty shell on its chamber, marked money and counterfeit bills used in the operation and “other personal items.”
She said the operation was conducted in coordination with the Philippine Drug Enforcement Agency (Pdea) in Southern Mindanao.