A suspected drug dealer, tagged by police as a “high-value target,” was shot dead during an antidrug operation in Naga City, southern Cebu at around 5 p.m., Tuesday.
Thirty-nine-year-old Carlito Jabonillo was pronounced dead on arrival at the Minglanilla District Hospital after he reportedly engaged police operatives in a shootout.
Senior Inspector Adrian Nalua of the Naga City Police Office, who led the buy-bust operation against Jabonillo, said the suspect drew his gun and tried to run away after he realized that he was transacting with a police poseur buyer.
Jabonillo’s live-in partner, identified as Emily Alinsonorin, was also arrested after 10 plastic packs of shabu (methamphetamine hydrochloride) weighing 348.6 grams, valued at P4.1 million, was recovered from her possession, police said.
A loaded .38 revolver and .45 caliber pistol were also reportedly recovered during the operations.
Meanwhile in the northern town of Catmon, three persons were arrested during a bust operation at around 11p.m. Tuesday.
According to police, the transaction was done in a beach resort in Barangay Flores, where the suspects rented a house for five months.
Catmon police chief, Senior Insp. Alexander Nuñez, said police identified the suspects as Wilva Abordo, Eledio Corbo and Jelyn Heruela.
Abordo and Corbo are believed to be residents of Toledo City, while Huruela hails from Sogod, Cebu, police said.
Abordo’s boyfriend, identified as Dennis Lapa, managed to evade arrest when the suspects sensed that they were transacting with a police operative.
Police recovered eight packs of shabu weighing 35 grams worth P270,000.
A hand grenade and two .45 caliber pistols were also confiscated from Corbo, Nuñez said.
The group reportedly supplied illegal drugs, which they sourced from Cebu City, to the towns of Catmon, Liloan and Sogod.
Nuñez said the operation was a result of a monthlong surveillance conducted on Abordo’s activities.