A SUSPECTED drug lord of Eastern Visayas was killed in a shootout with the anti-narcotics operatives in a subdivision in Barangay Lawaan, Talisay City, Cebu around 4 p.m. Sunday, July 23.

Senior Insp. Windell Abellana, team leader of the Regional Drug Enforcement Unit (RDEU) in Central Visayas, identified the slain target as Robert "Tata" Dagting, a leader of a drug group.

He said Dagting ranked third in the high-value target list of Police Regional Office in Eastern Visayas (PRO-8).

Abellana said PRO-8 coordinated with them, after receiving reports that Dagting transferred his operations in Talisay City.

After more than a week of surveillance, RDEU-Central Visayas confirmed he rented a house in the subdivision.

Abellana said his team, together with PRO-8 operatives, went to the suspect's place and implemented the warrant of arrest for drug charges issued by a Southern Leyte court.

Dagting ran and fired at the operatives, when he noticed he was about to be arrested.

Operatives retaliated and hit him.

Abellana said the coordination between two police offices led to the neutralization of the alleged drug personality. (KAL)