Over P10M worth of illegal drugs seized in Manila, Rizal ops; suspect killed

A suspect was killed while another one was able to elude arrest following an anti-illegal drugs operation in Ermita, Manila, early Friday morning, the Philippine National Police (PNP) said.

PNP chief Police General Debold Sinas said the slain suspect, identified only as "Kuya," was armed with a caliber .45 pistol and fired at the agents of PNP Drug Enforcement Group to evade arrest.

His alleged cohort, identified as Ish Aguilar, was able to escape and is now being hunted by authorities.

Sinas said the suspects were alleged distributors of illegal drugs in Metro Manila as well as in nearby provinces. They usually get their supply from foreigners and some Filipino friends, he added.

In that operation, authorities seized 800 tablets of suspected ecstasy worth P1,360,000; two plastic sachets of suspected shabu worth P340,000; a caliber .45 pistol; and buy bust money worth P5,000.

PNP-DEG chief Police Brigadier General Ronald Lee said Kuya and Aguilar eluded arrest on Thursday afternoon in a separate operation in Cainta, Rizal, when Law enforcers raided a kitchen-type shabu laboratory.

Aguilar's live-in partner, Khrystyn Almario Pimentel, was arrested in that operation. Recovered from her were some 2,000 tablets of suspected ecstasy worth P3,400,000; ten small packs of suspected marijuana worth P60,000; and suspected shabu worth P6,800,000.

Police also discovered some laboratory equipment used to re-process shabu.

The PNP said Aguilar was allegedly deported from the United States over a drug case. He was supposedly distributing illegal drugs through a certain Gian via courier service.

Aguilar was also allegedly related to murder convict Jason Ivler, the PNP said. —Anna Felicia Bajo/KBK, GMA News