By Freddie Velez
CAMP GENERAL ALEJO SANTOS, Bulacan--A drug suspect was shot dead while 11 others were arrested in separate buy-bust and manhunt operations conducted by the Bulacan police Friday evening.
Colonel Lawrence B. Cajipe, acting Bulacan police director, identified the slain suspect as Edgar Estosane, of Upper Quarry Barangay Minuyan Proper, City of San Jose Del Monte (CJSDM), Bulacan.
Based on the report of Lt. Col. Gil Domingo, Chief of Police of San Jose Del Monte City, a buy bust operation was conducted at Upper Quarry Brgy. Minuyan Proper Friday evening, March 13, by the City Drug Enforcement Unit CDEU of CSJDM police.
After the transaction was completed, Estosane reportedly sensed that he was dealing with a police officer, and suddenly ran inside his office where the operatives followed him.
But the lawmen were met with gun fire when they ran after the suspect, who had already sought refuge inside his room.
The operatives tried to negotiate with the suspect to surrender peacefully, but instead of giving up, Estosane fired at them anew, prompting the operatives to retaliate, resulting in the death of the suspect.
Meanwhile, in other buy-bust operations conducted by the Station Drug Enforcement Unit (SDEU) from the Obando, Meycauayan and San Miguel police stations collared seven drug suspects.
Arrested were Richard Bernardo, and Collin Halili, who were included in the drug watch list of the Marilao police; Roberto Principe, Christopher Viola, Mark Noriel Yason, Arnel Ramos, and a 17-year-old minor.
A total of 30 plastic sachets of shabu were confiscated from the suspects during the operations.
The arrested suspect and confiscated pieces of evidence were brought to the Bulacan Provincial Crime Laboratory Office for appropriate examination while criminal complaints for Violation o f RA 9165 against the arrested suspects were being prepared for filing in court.