3 killed in Albay town buy-bust

LEGAZPI CITY, Philippines — Three alleged illegal drug pushers were killed in a shootout with police anti-narcotics operatives in Daraga, Albay on Friday evening.

Insp. Rodelon Betita, Daraga police chief, said Pedrito Tibay, alias Mao; Jeruth Catubig, alias Bunker; and Carlo Rima, allegedly sold “shabu” (crystal meth) to undercover police officers in Purok  7, Barangay Binitayan at around 6:20 p.m.

Upon sensing that they were transacting with the police, one of the suspects fired, forcing the police to retaliate, killing the three suspects.

One of the police operatives who was wearing a bullet-proof vest was also hit twice in the chest, said Betita in a phone interview.

Police recovered from the suspects ten packs of suspected shabu worth P100,000, and three .38 pistols. /ee