LEGAZPI CITY — A suspected drug pusher operating in Albay was killed in a shootout with anti-narcotics operatives during a drug operation in Barangay Ponso, Polangui town, a police report said on Wednesday.
Senior Insp. Maria Luisa Calubaquib, spokesperson of the Philippine National Police (PNP) in Bicol, identified the slain suspect as Niño Loveriza alias “Potpot”, a resident of Barangay Victory Village.
Loveriza was a high-value target included on the provincial drug watch list and a cousin of Antonio Loveriza, the village chief of Barangay 28-Victory Village here considered as one the illegal drug hot spot areas in this city.
Anti-narcotics operatives pursued a drug buy-bust operation around 1:35 a.m. Tuesday in Barangay Ponso, Polangui town while Loveriza was transacting a drug deal worth PHP6,000 with a police poseur-buyer.
The suspect, sensing that it was a sting operation, pulled his handgun and fired at the poseur-buyer prompting the operative to return fire, Calubaquib said.
Loveriza was rushed to the nearest hospital but was declared dead on arrival by attending physicians.
Meanwhile, police operatives collared at least three suspected drug personalities in two separate illegal drug operations on Tuesday in Daet town in Camarines Norte, a report reaching the Philippine National Police (PNP) in Bicol said on Wednesday.
Ronald Esmena, 39, of Barangay Magang and Jason De Los Reyes, 19, of P-5 Barangay 4, both in Daet town were arrested. Seized from them were four sachets of suspected shabu (crystal meth).
Meanwhile, Renato Baredo, 30, married, Barangay Camambugan, Daet town, was arrested in a mobile police patrol checkpoint. He was accosted by the police as he was riding a motorcycle without plate number and for not wearing a helmet.
During a routine body search, the police found in his possession a sachet of suspected shabu.
The suspects are now detained at the police town jail awaiting the filing of appropriate charges against them. (Mar Serrano/PNA)
