Buy-bust operations conducted on Valentine’s Day resulted to the death of a drug suspect and the arrest of another personality who were both under drug watch list of the Philippine Drug Enforcement Agency (PDEA).
The fatality was identified as Abella Halili alias Hanico, a 42-year-old resident of Barangay La Libertad, Sto.Tomas, Davao del Norte.
The arrested suspect was identified as Ariel Regidor Cirilo, alias “Aying”, a 40-year-old married landscaper who is a resident of Purok 3, Barangay Matti, Digos City, Davao del Sur.
In the case of Hanico, police said they conducted the buy-bust operation at 9:10 a.m. Thursday in Purok 1-A, Sitio Apitong, La Libertad.
The Drug Enforcement Unit of Sto. Tomas Police Station was armed with PDEA certificate of coordination, in conducting the operation.
The suspect, reportedly sensing that the buyer was a police officer, pulled out from his sling bag a hand grenade. This prompted the team to shoot the suspect, resulting to his death.
Three big heat-sealed transparent cellophanes containing white crystallized substance believed to be shabu, a hand grenade, and P18,000 marked buy-bust money were recovered in the possession of the suspect.
The Scene of the Crime Operatives also recovered assorted drug paraphernalia and empty sachets of transparent cellophane with shabu residues in the possession of the suspect.
The cadaver of the suspect is now laid at Cofreros Funeral Parlor in Barangay Tibal-og, Sto.Tomas.
Hanico was listed under PNP-PDEA unified drug watch list personalities for operation and listed Number 2 in Municipal level watch list.
His illegal activity was monitored after previous apprehended drug suspects mentioned his name as a source of illegal drug.
On the other operation, the Digos City Police Station and the PDEA – Davao del Sur conducted a joint operation under in front of the Coity Council building in Jose Abad Santos Street, Barangay Zone 3, Digos City at 3:15 p.m. that day.
The suspect, a former drug surrenderer, was placed under the PDEA watch list after he resumed his illegal drug trade.
Two heat-sealed transparent plastic sachet containing white crystalline substance believed to be shabu, a cellular phone, the P500 marked money were seized from the suspect’s possession.
Also confiscated were a brown wallet containing a various identification cards and a motorcycle without plate number.
Chief Supt. Marcelo Morales, the police regional director, lauded the operating units for a job well done.
By Lumelyn Cayunda, JMC Intern
