‘Notorious’ drug pusher dies in shootout with QC agents

Quezon City Police District director Chief Supt. Guillermo Eleazar. INQUIRER file photo

A notorious drug pusher, who was a target of a police buy-bust operation, was killed in a shootout with policemen in Fairview, Quezon City early Wednesday.

Quezon City Police District (QCPD) Chief Supt. Guillermo Eleazar identified the suspect as Vergil Leblora, 43, a resident of Barangay North Fairview.

Leblora was reportedly one of the drug personalities who earlier surrendered to authorities for involvement in illegal drugs but became notorious for returning to the illegal drug trade.

Eleazar, in a press statement, said members of the Fairview Police Station Drug Enforcement Unit (SDEU), under Police Supt. Tomas Nuñez, conducted the buy-bust operation at 1:10 a.m. along Astor Street, Barangay North Fairview, where Leblora was supposed to be handing out packs of shabu in a drug deal.

“A police undercover operative bought shabu from the suspect. However, after the transaction, Leblora sensed presence of other operatives and drew a gun and fired at them which resulted in a shootout,” Eleazar said.

Leblora was rushed to the Far Eastern University (FEU) Hospital but was declared dead upon arrival, the QCPD chief said.

Eleazar said operatives recovered from the suspect a coin purse containing 10 sachets of shabu, a wallet with cash, and a cal. 45 pistol loaded with the remaining six bullets. /jpv