P68-M worth of shabu, guns seized from 3 fatalities in Cubao shootout

Police seized P68 million worth of shabu and three guns from the three drug suspects who died in a shootout with police in Cubao, Quezon City on Tuesday.

According to Jun Veneracion’s report in “24 Oras” on Wednesday, the deadly encounter at Barangay Socorro was a result of months of surveillance by the Philippine National Police Drug Enforcement Group. 

While three suspects died in the buy-bust operation, another one was able to escape. A cop and a civilian informant were also reportedly wounded. 

“Yung mga suspect po is nasa target list po [sila]...nasa intelligence packet,” said PNP Drug Enforcement Group spokesperson Police Lt. Marlon Sy. 

(Our suspects are in the target list, they are included in the intelligence packet.)

“‘Yung background po nung isang napatay na suspect is suspended security guard po siya,” Sy added. 

(The background of one of those killed is that he was a suspended security guard.) 

The suspects’ modus is to trick and kill their victims, but they did not know that they were transacting with cops.

“Ngayon gagawa na sila ng plan para bakit makukuha ko na po yung drug item, at the same time meron po akong, 'yung pera po makukuha po nila kung napapatay nila ‘yung mga ka-transaksyon nila,” said Sy.

(So their plan is to get the drug item and at the same time steal the money once they kill those who they are transacting with.)

Further, the PNP maintains that anti-illegal drug operations will remain “bloodless”, but the safety of operatives are top priority. 

“Nanatili po tayong bloodless ang atin pong operations sa drugs. Pero kapag in danger naman po ang buhay, security ng ating mga miyembro, hindi naman natin hahayaan na mamatay ang ating kapulisan sa pagtupad ng kanilang tungkulin,” said Police Brigadier General Randulf Tuaño. 

(Our drug operations remain bloodless. But if the life and security of our members are in danger, we will not allow our police to die while fulfilling their duties.) —Vince Angelo Ferreras/RF, GMA Integrated News