COTABATO CITY – A drug suspect was killed in a shootout with anti-narcotics agents in Kabacan, North Cotabato, and recovered some PHP54,000 worth of shabu, the Philippine Drug Enforcement Agency-12 reported Friday.
PDEA agent Kath Abad, speaking for PDEA-12, identified the suspect as Jay-Ar Lovino of Barangay Osias.
“The suspect was dealing with our poseur-buyer when he sensed it was buy-bust and drew a .45-caliber pistol that triggered a shootout,” Abad said, referring to the 5:30 p.m. drug sting operation in Barangay Malamote on Thursday.
Abad said the suspect was taken to the hospital after the shootout but was declared dead on arrival by doctors.
She added that police records showed that Lovino, long wanted for murder charges, was also one of the escapees during the January 4, 2017 jailbreak at the North Cotabato provincial jail.
Recovered from the suspect were a .45 caliber pistol and some 10 grams of shabu.
The pieces of evidence were turned over to the North Cotabato Provincial Crime Laboratory Office for proper disposition. (PNA)