Top drug suspect in Negros town, 3 others die in shootout with cops

INQUIRER FILE PHOTO

BACOLOD CITY, Negros Occidental — The number one drug pushing suspect in Pontevedra town, Negros Occidental and three other suspected drug peddlers were killed in an alleged shootout with police past noon on Wednesday.

Among those killed was  Andrew Tuvilla, 35, who allegedly supplied 60 to 70 percent of shabu (methamphetamine hydrochloride) to drug users in Pontevedra, and neighboring areas of the 4th district of Negros Occidental.

The three other suspects who were killed in the shootout were Ramon Lanzar Jr., Monterio Jiloma, 25, and Leo Uberas, 38, said  Senior Inspector Geruld Huerva, police chief of the San Enrique town.

The police claimed that the four were killed in a brief shootout with four members of the Provincial Anti-Illegal Drugs Special Operations Task Group of the Negros Occidental Provincial Police Office, during a buy-bust operation at the Purok Casino, Barangay Miranda, Pontevedra about 12:20 p.m.

Chief Inspector Mark Anthony Darroca, who led the buy-bust operation, said that Tuvilla was visited by the Pontevedra police at his house, in line with the Oplan Tokhang campaign and was urged to stop his illegal activities.

Tuvilla made a promise to change his ways but did not keep his promise.

Recovered from Tuvilla were a .45-caliber pistol with two magazines containing ammunition, P46,880 in cash believed to be proceeds from the sale of prohibited drugs, 11 big sachets of suspected shabu and two other elongated sachets of shabu and paraphernalia, a sling bag containing personal belongings, 33 assorted ammunition as well as two ammunition for M203 grenade launchers, and a Rouser 150cc motorcycle, said  Senior Supt. William Señoron, provincial police director of Negros Occidental.  SFM