Drug suspect killed, P6.8M worth of 'shabu' seized in Mandaue op —PNP

An anti-illegal drug operation in Mandaue City, Cebu, on Saturday evening had resulted in the death of one suspect and confiscation of P6.8 million of suspected shabu, police said.

In a statement, the Philippine National Police (PNP) identified the suspect as Jomar Espinoza, 27 years old.

PNP chief Police General Dionardo Carlos said Espinoza and his unidentified cohort fired at the arresting officers of City Drug Enforcement Unit - Mandaue City Police Office, prompting the authorities to retaliate.

Espinoza was seriously wounded and was brought to Eversley Child Sanitarium but was declared dead on arrival by the attending physician, according to the PNP.

The unidentified cohort managed to escape aboard a motorcycle. A manhunt operation has been launched to capture him.

Recovered from the operation were a large plastic sachet, four plastic packs containing suspected shabu weighing around 1,000 grams worth P6.8 million, buy-bust money, a caliber .38 revolver, five fired cartridge cases of caliber 9mm, a fired cartridge case of caliber .38, a backpack, and a helmet.

“Tayo ay patuloy na nananawagan sa ating mga kababayan na itigil na nila ang pagbenta ng iligal na droga sapagkat ito ay salot sa lipunan na sumisira ng buhay at kinabukasan,” Carlos said.

(We continue to appeal to our countrymen to stop the sale of illegal drugs because this is a plague to society and it destroys lives.)  —Joviland Rita/KBK, GMA News