PNP Chief Gen. Archie Gamboa (File photo)
MANILA – Two drug personalities died following an encounter with PNP Drug Enforcement Group (PDEG) and National Capital Region Police Office (NCRPO) which also seized PHP81.6 million worth of illegal drugs in a buy-bust operation in Taguig City, PNP chief Gen. Archie Gamboa said.
In a statement on Saturday, Gamboa identified the fatalities as Ryan Labanderia, 26, resident of Ormoc, Leyte; and Ervyn Querobin, 35, from Correta, Cebu.
Based on the spot report, the joint buy-bust operation led by elements of NCRPO and PDEG on Friday night along C6 Road in Lower Bicutan, Taguig City resulted in an armed encounter causing the neutralization of two suspects.
Upon sensing they were dealing with police operatives, the two suspects immediately fled the scene resulting in an armed encounter with chasing PDEG operatives and the death of Labanderia and Querobin.
Operatives from the PDEG and NCRPO confiscated a total 12 large packs of dangerous drugs wrapped in Chinese tea bags suspected to be “shabu” weighing 12 kilos valued at PHP81,600,000.
The seized illegal drugs were brought to PNP Crime Laboratory for examination.
Also recovered from the scene were PHP1-million buy-bust money, blue Toyota Altis with plate number XNC 631, black Nissan Navarra, one .45-caliber pistol and one KG-9 sub-machine gun.
Gamboa lauded the successful operations of NCRPO and PDEG.
“The PNP continues to be in (the) frontline of ensuring public safety by going after illegal drugs. We will be relentless in our pursuit of criminals even as we are facing the challenges of the Covid-19 (coronavirus disease 2019) pandemic,” Gamboa said. (PNA)
