CEBU CITY – An anti-illegal drug operation came to a bloody ending after a group of drug suspects shot it out with police in Barangay Magwahay, Talisay City, Cebu Saturday afternoon.
Police identified the fatalities as Susano Labrador, Vincent Ceballos, and Warlito Tecson. The three men’s alleged cohorts identified as Jackson Segundino and Ariel Olivar eluded arrest.
Olivar is the leader of the group which is known for its notoriety in illegal drug activities in the city, said Supt. Marlu Conag, chief of the Talisay police.
“These are hardcore drug suspects. Even their families condemned their illegal activities and some residents thanked the police after the operation,” said Conag.
Police said Olivar was implicated in two killings and a nephew of a drug suspect who is considered as a high-value target in the police drug watch list.
Ceballos and Tecson were the ones tasked to distribute illegal drugs to their patrons while Segundino acted as the group’s hitman.
Conag narrated that a poseur-buyer tried to transact with the group but the suspects sensed they were dealing with a policeman. The Talisay police chief said the suspects fired the first shot, prompting lawmen to retaliate.
Packs of suspected shabu, two revolvers, and a .45 caliber pistol were recovered from the suspects, police said.
The bloody encounter in Maghaway took place a day after three drug suspects were killed in a shootout with police. Killed in the shootout were Arniel Hernane, a certain “Joseph,” and Ramonito Maneja.
Police said the three men were the ones who shot PO1 Jaylord Joseph Taping during a buy-bust operation last Thursday. The policeman survived but sustained a bullet wound in the left side of the body. (Calvin Cordova)
