Senior Insp. Alejandro Batobalonos, head of the Provincial Drug Enforcement Unit (PDEU), identified the injured suspect as a certain Marlon Dejino, who was also the subject of their operation.
Dejino, 19, remained at the Cebu City Medical Center where he was brought for the treatment of his gunshot wound.
Batobalonos said that Dejino, who is able to dispose 200 grams of shabu per week, is a contact of Antonette Kanemura of Barangay Inuburan, Naga City, who was arrested by PIB on Saturday.
Kanemura, who is known as the drug queen in Naga City, was arrested with P472,000 worth of shabu. She also has a minor believed to be a cohort in her illegal drugs business with her during the police operation.
On Monday, a police team consisting of personnel from the PDEU, Provincial Intelligence Branch (PIB) and Mambaling Police Station went into Sitio San Roque for a follow operation against Dejino.
Batobalonos said that Dejino’s 16-year-old cohort was the one who met their poseur buyer in a small ally in Sitio San Roque. Said minor turned over 25 grams of shabu to the poseur buyer and received the P295,000 payment.
The minor, he said, turned over the cash to Dejino who was nearby.
But when they sensed that the minor was transacting with a poseur buyer, he, Dejino and a certain Edrico Caballero, who was also in the area, started to scamper to flee.
Dejino, he said, also fired at the pursuing policemen which prompted the shootout.
Batobalonos said that Dejino was wounded during the shootout and was brought to CCMC.
Police also arrested Caballero and the 16-year-old boy.
Batobalonos said that they are now conducting further investigation to identify Dejino’s drug suppliers.
They found messages from the suspect’s cellular phone which mentioned of a contact who is now detained at the Maghaway District Jail in Talisay City.