A LAW ENFORCER shot dead an alleged illegal drugs peddler after the latter tried to shoot an agent during an operation on Wednesday afternoon in Barangay 23-C.
Lt. Col. Ronald Lao, Sta. Ana Police Station commander, said John Archie Araula, a resident of the place, was considered a top target of the police station for his activities.
Based on the report, a police agent pretended to buy shabu from Araula for P5,000, P1,000 of it was a genuine bill while P4,000 was bogus. Upon sensing that his buyer was a law enforcer, Araula then pulled a handgun and shot the agent, but the latter managed to escape unharmed.
The agent’s companion in the raid, identified as Cpl. Lerin, fired at Araula to save his colleague.
After the suspect was hit, he was immediately brought to the Southern Philippines Medical Center by the police team where the attending physician declared him dead.
Investigators were able to recover the handgun allegedly used by Araula as well as about P P123,760 in shabu and that the investigation process was also witnessed by a social worker.
Lao said that Araula was a subject of an electronic warrant for theft that was issued by Judge Glenn De Castro Aquino of the Regional Trial Court XI Branch 8.
