TACLOBAN CITY – A high-value target was killed, and more than P300,000 in shabu were confiscated in a buy-bust operation conducted by the Regional Drug Enforcement Unit (RDEU) in Catbalogan City on January 14.
According to Catbalogan Police Chief, Lt Col. Francisco Sumpo Jr., suspect Lucio Abarcar, who was tagged by both the Philippine Drug Enforcement Agency (PDEA) and the Philippine National Police (PNP) as a high-value individual in Eastern Visayas, was killed after he chose to shoot it out with authorities in a drug stint conducted on Friday night in Barangay 2, Salug, in Catbalogan City.
The drug sting, which was conducted with the cooperation of the Regional Drug Enforcement Unit 8, the Provincial Drug Enforcement Unit of Samar Police Provincial Office, and the City Drug Enforcement Team, also resulted in the recovery of three sachets of shabu, which was procured by an undercover agent for P25,000.
The Scene of the Crime Operatives (SOCO) also recovered a loaded caliber .45 pistol, four fired cartridge cases; 18 other plastic sachets containing shabu with an estimated weight of 30 grams and estimated street value of P300,000; and 14 unknown tablets.
The recovered pieces of evidence were brought to the Catbalogan City Police Station, while the suspect’s remains were later brought to a local funeral parlor.