An alleged drug peddler was killed in a shootout with anti-narcotics operatives in Naic, Cavite before midnight on Friday.
Police identified the man as Resty Lopez, 41. They said that Lopez was allegedly involved in hold-ups and was an akyat-bahay gang member operating in the area of Naic.
Investigation showed that the operation was launched by members of the Drug Enforcement Unit (DEU) of Naic at 11:38 p.m. along NIA Road, Barangay Labac, Naic, Cavite.
Authorities said that a poseur buyer was able to purchase a sachet of suspected “shabu” worth P500. They added that the suspect might have sensed that he was transacting with a police officer and pulled out his firearm and shot the operative.
The officer was able to avoid the shot according to police and returned fire which resulted in the death of Lopez.
Police said that his death will decrease the supply of illegal drugs in the adjacent barangays of Brgy. Labac, Naic, Cavite. They recovered from the scene one caliber .38 revolver.
The Cavite Police Public Information Office (PIO) on Saturday said that eight have been killed in anti-drug operations in the past five days from February 15 to February 19. They did not reveal the details of the incidents.
They said that the armed encounters occurred in Bacoor City, Naic, General Trias City, Imus City, Tanza, and Indang. Out of 121 illegal drug operations, 186 suspected pushers and 19 suspected users with a total of 205 persons were arrested provincewide.