6 Suspected Drug Personalities Shot Dead in Cebu, Toledo Cities

Six suspected drug personalities were killed early dawn Wednesday in separate incidents in the cities of Toledo and Cebu, police said.

Of the six, four persons, including a suspected drug pusher, were killed in a shootout with police during a drug bust at Sitio Sta. Ana., Poblacion, Toledo City in Cebu around 2 a.m. Wednesday.

The two others were shot dead by unidentified gunmen in separate incidents in two villages in Cebu City.

Superintendent Samuel Velenzuela Mina Jr., Toledo City Police Station chief, said he and members of the anti-illegal drugs special operation task force shot and killed suspected drug pusher Jerome Layan Gara, 49, and three unidentified men in a shootout that erupted during a buy-bust operation.

Police said Gara and the three others pulled out their short firearms after sensing the policemen.

Police recovered from the scene were 23 sachets of shabu weighing 100 grams worth P500,000, drug paraphernalia, a digital weighing scale, one .45 caliber pistol, three .38 caliber revolvers with live bullets and three steel magazines.

In Cebu City, suspected drug pusher Chrisar Babatid was drinking with his friends at past 12 midnight Wednesday along L. Flores St., Barangay Pasil, Cebu City, when two men on board a motorcycle shot him.

Babatid, who sustained gunshot wounds on his body and head, was rushed to the Cebu City Medical Center but was declared dead on arrival.

Babatid voluntarily surrendered a month ago at the Police Station 6 in Barangay Pasil, Cebu City.

Around 1:30 a.m. Wednesday, Matt Rizon, said to be an illegal drug user and a resident in Sitio Buli, Barangay Duljo Fatima, also in Cebu City, was shot dead, also by an unidentified gunman. (PNA) LAP/EB/SSC