Suspected drug pusher killed in Antique

ILOILO CITY, Iloilo—Police gunned down another suspected drug pusher in Antique on Tuesday afternoon, the second in the province in the first three days of the new year.

Jovanny Ballenas died from eight gunshot wounds around 4:15 p.m. in Barangay (village) Dalipe in the capital town of San Jose after he allegedly fired at policemen belonging to the Provincial Anti-Illegal Drugs Special Operations Task Group, San Jose police station and the Regional Intelligence Unit.

Ballenas, 23, allegedly drew a .357-caliber revolver and fired at the policemen during a drug buy-bust operation, according to Chief Insp. Norby Escobar, San Jose police chief.

Aside from the firearm, police allegedly recovered a hand grenade, three sachets of suspected methamphetamine hydrochloride (shabu) and P1,000 in marked money.

Escobar said operatives also recovered two identification cards purportedly of the Moro National Liberation Front but their authenticity was still being determined.

Ballenas, a native of Barbarza town in Antique, was under the drug watchlist of the town’s police office.

He is the 18th suspected drug pusher gunned down in police operations in Western Visayas since the massive anti-drug campaign of the Duterte administration started on July 1.

On Sunday, police also gunned down a 42-year old laborer in Culasi town in Antique also in a buy-bust operation.

READ: Drug and rape-slay suspect shot dead in Antique drug bust

Elphy Sagpao allegedly fought it out with policemen from the Culasi police station, Provincial Anti-Illegal Drugs Special Operations Task Group and Regional Public Safety Battalion during the operation at Barangay Esperanza.