Pusher on PRRD 'narco list' slain in Koronadal drug bust

GENERAL SANTOS CITY -- A target-listed drug personality on President Rodrigo R. Duterte's "narco list" was killed in a joint anti-drug operation in a village in Koronadal City on Tuesday afternoon.

Chief Supt. Eliseo Rasco, regional director of the Police Regional Office-12, said Wednesday suspect Roland Perez Rufino alias "Lando" was gunned down by operatives after resisting arrest during a buy-bust operation at Crossing Bedrock, along the congressional road in Barangay Sta. Cruz.

Rasco said Regional Police Drug Enforcement Unit-12 personnel conducted an entrapment on the suspect at around 3:45 p.m. in coordination with the Philippine Drug Enforcement Agency-12.

An undercover operative was able to buy from Rufino a sachet of suspected methamphetamine hydrochloride or shabu worth PHP500.

"When nearby operatives were about to make the arrest, the suspect drew and fired his firearm towards the policemen, which prompted them to retaliate," he said.

Rasco said Rufino was immediately brought to the nearest hospital where he was declared dead upon arrival by the attending doctor.

Recovered from the slain suspect were a caliber .38 revolver with two live ammunition, a black sling bag containing six sachets of suspected shabu, identification cards, assorted personal belongings, and PHP500 marked bill used in the buy-bust.

Rasco said Rufino, a resident of Barangay Carpenter Hill in Koronadal City, was a known drug pusher in the area.

He said the suspect was listed as a "level 1 high-value target" in Duterte's drug list. (PNA)