CAMP OLIVAS, City of San Fernando, Pampanga – A suspected drug pusher was killed in a buy-bust operation in Barangay Valle Cruz, Cabanatuan City, Nueva Ecija on Wednesday, Nov. 16.
Col. Richard Caballero, Nueva Ecija police officer-in-charge, identified the fatality as Arnold Mateo.
Mateo fired his gun after he sensed that he was dealing with a police poseur-buyer. Lawmen returned fire, killing the suspect.
Recovered from the crime scene were a caliber .45 pistol with live ammunition, four heat-sealed transparent plastic sachets containing suspected shabu weighing 21 grams with an estimated Dangerous Drug Board value of P142,800, and the P1,000 marked money.
Police Regional Office 3 Director Brig. Gen. Cesar Pasiwen said they are conducting a series of anti-drug operations in Central Luzon in line with the directives of PNP chief Gen. Rodolfo Azurin Jr.