DRUG BUST. An operative of the City Drug Enforcement Unit of the Bacolod City Police Office conducts an inventory of the suspected shabu seized in buy-bust in Barangay Pahanocoy on Thursday night (Aug. 27, 2020), which also led to the death of a high-value individual and the arrest of seven other suspects. The operation yielded 55 grams of the prohibited substance valued at PHP374,000. (Photo courtesy of Bacolod City Police Office)
BACOLOD CITY – A drug personality died in a shootout with operatives of Bacolod City Police Office (BCPO) while his seven companions were arrested during a buy-bust in a house at Purok Florenceville, Barangay Pahanocoy on Thursday night.
The fatality was identified as Jose Paterio Tolete, 42, of Rosario Heights, Barangay Taculing, who was tagged as a high-value individual by the City Drug Enforcement Unit (CDEU), which led the operation.
Lt. Col. Ariel Pico, public information officer of BCPO, said on Friday the suspect shot it out with operatives.
“Our operatives also have to defend themselves,” he added.
Pico said the CDEU personnel have been conducting surveillance on the operations of Tolete since March.
The other suspects arrested while holding a “pot session” were identified as Angel Villanueva, 37, of East Homes 3, Barangay Estefania; Janting Monlido, 35, Barangay Tangub; Dante Casiple, 33, Barangay Villamonte; Jose Villanueva Jr., 46, Barangay Singcang-Airport; Denny Rubaton, 38, Barangay 35; Kenjie Bais, 25, Barangay Singcang-Airport; and Arjie Aghon, 26, Barangay Taloc, Bago City.
The ninth suspect, Jennifer Mercader, a notorious drug personality from Cebu province, evaded arrest.
Pico said although Mercader is at-large, she will still be included in the cases that will be filed against the arrested suspects, who are detained at the Police Station 8.
During the operation at around 8 p.m., a poseur-buyer transacted for a sale of PHP1,000 worth of suspected shabu with Tolete, who resisted arrest when he learned of the presence of policemen.
Operatives seized eight elongated and 11 big sachets of the same prohibited substance, weighing 55 grams, with an estimated value of PHP374,000.
They also recovered drug paraphernalia, including a digital weighing scale, an improvised tooter, and a disposable lighter. (PNA)
