SHOOTOUT. Photos show the drug personalities who were killed in a shootout with the police during an anti-drug sting operation in the hinterland village of Taptap in Cebu City on Thursday night (June 10, 2021). The operation, along with an earlier buy-bust involving the suspects, resulted in the confiscation of some 10 kilos of a white substance believed to be shabu with a total estimated value of PHP68 million. (Photo courtesy of Benjie Talisic)
CEBU CITY – Three drug suspects were killed in a shootout with anti-drug operatives during a dragnet operation in the hinterland village of Taptap here, while a total of PHP68 million worth of shabu was seized from them in two operations, the police said on Friday.
Brig. Gen. Remus Medina, chief of the Philippine National Police Drug Enforcement Group, identified the three suspects as Lihbon Kerr Bargayo alias “Levon”, Christopher Lim alias “Christopher Aparece”, and Boyet Rama.
In a press briefing, Medina said the three were the subject of a buy-bust operation in Barangay Campo 4, Talisay City on Thursday morning where they transacted with a police officer who acted as poseur buyer of some two kilos of shabu.
After sensing that the "buyer" was a policeman, the group fired at him and his team, resulting in an exchange of fire, during which the suspects managed to flee.
Medina said the police immediately established a dragnet operation along with other police units and asked Cebu City Police Office (CCPO) chief, Col. Josefino Ligan, to trace the whereabouts of the suspects' black Toyota Vios.
The Highway Patrol Group-7 (HPG-7) led by Maj. Gideon Merza intercepted the getaway vehicle in Barangay Taptap at around 10:30 p.m. on Thursday.
“But instead of stopping, the suspects fired upon the police officers which resulted to another armed encounter and eventually lead to the neutralization of the suspects resulting to their instantaneous death,” a police report said.
The police seized during the first operation two large packs containing a white substance believed to be shabu which was the subject of the transaction, eight large packs also containing white crystalline substance during the second operation, and the Toyota Vios used as a getaway vehicle.
Also seized from the suspects were a 5.56 caliber Armalite rifle with defaced serial number; a .45 caliber pistol with serial number 851295 loaded with five cartridges and one magazine, .38 caliber revolver with serial number PRO80713905; a black traveling bag; and two dusted PHP1,000 bills, along with boodle money used in the first operation.
CCPO deputy chief for operation Lt. Col. Wilbert Parilla said the illegal drugs confiscated have a total street value of PHP68 million.
The police believed the suspects are members of a drug syndicate.
“We’re digging deeper to determine which drug group they belong and the source of their illegal drug supply,” Parilla told the media. (PNA)
