Cop guns down drug suspect’s aide

AN AIDE of a suspected big-time drug pusher was shot and killed by a police officer in a buy-bust in Barangay Yati, Liloan, Cebu yesterday afternoon.

Richard Taco, legal age, who resided in Danao City, allegedly attempted to throw a hand grenade to the team of operatives from the Provincial Intelligence Branch (PIB) who conducted the buy-bust.

Taco was brought to the Eversley Childs Sanitarium in Mandaue City but he died on the way there. He suffered a gunshot wound in the abdomen.

The PIB team led by SPO1 Reynaldo Solante confiscated P1-million worth of suspected shabu and high-powered firearms during the 3 p.m. operation.

Solante told Sun.Star Cebu his team was after drug suspect Bebot Pepito, who was the subject of the buy-bust.

A poseur-buyer bought three grams of shabu worth P15,000 from Pepito inside an apartment in Sitio Purol Molave.

Pepito, however, allegedly went out and boarded a dark grey Toyota pick-up that the police had failed to notice.

“Wala paman sad gud nadawat sa among poseur-buyer ang shabu mao wala siya ka-signal dayon (The poseur-buyer has not yet received the shabu, that’s why he wasn’t able to make the signal),” Solante said.

Pepito is reportedly included in the watchlist of suspected drug personalities in Cebu Province. He is also allegedly involved in other crimes.

The poseur-buyer, Solante said, was also hesitant to react because Taco, who was with Pepito during the supposed deal, was armed with a KG-9 machine pistol.

When Solante’s team got the signal, they raided the apartment where Taco, who was left inside, failed to resist.

The police recovered an Ingram machine pistol, one KG-9 machine pistol, three .45 pistols, a .357 revolver, two .38 revolvers, one .22 magnum pistol, one 9mm pistol, bullets and a hand grenade.

They also found two large packs, 23 medium packs and 2,518 sachets of shabu and bulletproof vests.

According to the police, Taco suddenly opened his bag and tried to remove the safety pin of the hand grenade.

PO2 Roderick Balili noticed Taco and shot the latter in the abdomen.

“Kung wala pa’y tape ang granada, daghan unta ming makalas kay iya man gyud ‘tong pabuthon (Had it not for the tape attached to the grenade, we would have died),” Solante said.