LA TRINIDAD, Benguet – Two suspected drug personalities in the province were killed in a shootout with combined police operatives and anti-narcotics agents during a drub buy bust operation at Lower Tomay, here, Wednesday afternoon.
Senior Superintendent Florante Camuyot, officer-in-charge of the Benguet Provincial Police Office, identified the fatalities as Jerry Tuda and Allan Lorenzano, both drug surrenderees of the Buguias Municipal Police Station.
Initial police investigation showed the combined operating troops conducted a drug buy bust operation against the occupants of a van and upon sensing that the supposed buyer of alleged illegal drugs was a police operative, they suddenly sped off towards the twon proper.
However, upon reaching Lower Tomay, the driver of the van suddenly stopped his vehicle and both occupants reportedly went out and started firing at the operating troops who were chasing them prompting the law enforcers to fire back which resulted to the death of the two drug personalities.
Both individuals were rushed to the Benguet General Hospital (BeGH) for medical treatment but they were pronounced dead on arrival by attending physicians due to multiple gunshot wounds on the different parts of their bodies.
Responding police operatives and elements of the Scene of the Crime Operation (SOCO) team recovered from the crime scene a calibre .38 revolver and a calibre .45 pistol which were used by the suspects in engaging the operating troops, five empty shells and deformed slugs of a calibre .45 pistol, numerous sachets containing marijuana and suspected shabu inside the vehicles of the suspects and assorted drug paraphernalia.
The said drug personalities earlier surrendered to the elements of the Buguias Municipal Police Station but still pursued their illegal trade.
By Dexter A. See