LEGAZPI CITY -- A suspected big-time drug pusher who is running for town councilor was killed on Wednesday night during a drug operation in Barangay Binuahan, Pilar town in Sorsogon, a Philippine Drug Enforcement Agency (PDEA) report said on Thursday.
Killed was Roy Lumbao, former barangay chairman of said village and candidate for town councilor in Pilar, Sorsogon, said Christian Frivaldo, PDEA acting regional director.
The victim sold shabu worth PHP18,000 to an undercover PDEA operative at around 8:30 p.m. Wednesday, Frivaldo said. Upon realizing that it was a drug sting, Lumbao drew a .45-caliber pistol tucked in his waist, forcing police operatives to open fire, killing him instantly.
Frivaldo, in a phone interview, said the victim was a high-value target (HVT) and had been subject of a drug surveillance operation in Sorsogon.
Meanwhile, also nabbed on Wednesday night were seven suspected notorious illegal drug pushers during separate drug operations in six towns of Camarines Sur.
Frivaldo confirmed that several sachets containing suspected shabu were seized during a series of buy-bust operations in drug hot spot villages in the towns of Libmanan, Tigaon, Nabua, Pili, Minalabac and Baao.
He added that the series of operations were simultaneously conducted by joint PDEA-Philippine National Police operatives who were able to track down drug personalities included in the PDEA watch list and considered high-value targets (HVT).
Arrested in the operations were Eduardo Vargas, 43, of Libmanan; Lito Panciles, 28, of Tigaon; Nelson Marmeto Jr. of Nabua; Sonny Julianes, 40, of Pili; Henry Santillan, 55, of Minalabac; Ferdinand Buena, 40, and Christian Bricia, 20, of Baao town.
All the suspects are now detained in their respective municipal jails. (PNA)
