Drug suspect killed in Valenzuela buy-bust; cohort nabbed

MANILA, Philippines — A drug suspect was killed while his accomplice was arrested after an alleged encounter with the police in Valenzuela City on Friday.

Police identified the slain suspect as Aldin Gallego and his cohort as Marlon Torcuator, who were the subjects of a buy-bust operation launched by the city’s Station Drug Enforcement Unit in coordination with the Philippine Drug Enforcement Agency.

A report from the Valenzuela City Police Station on Saturday said PO1 Reggie Dellosa acted as a buyer and bought from Gallego a sachet of “shabu” worth P500. Torcuator was with Gallego during the bust.

Police said Dellosa signaled to other police officers deployed for the operation, but Gallego, upon sensing the presence of the lawmen, pulled a caliber .38 revolver and shot Dellosa but missed.

The police returned fire and hit Gallego, who slumped to the ground. He was rushed to the Valenzuela City Medical Center but was declared dead on arrival.

Torcuator, meanwhile, was arrested by the police. Allegedly seized from him were three sachets of suspected “shabu” and an empty plastic sachet, police said.

Also seized from the crime scene were a caliber .38 revolver with four bullets and five spent shells of a 9mm pistol.

Gallego’s body was brought to the Philippine National Police-Crime Laboratory Office for autopsy, while Torcuator was brought to the Valenzuela police station as he faces drug charges. /cbb