DUMAGUETE CITY -- A former member of the Philippine National Police (PNP) was shot dead Sunday during an anti-illegal drugs operation in Tanjay City, Negros Oriental.
The ex-policeman was identified as Antonio Benson Saga, of legal age, married and a resident of Barangay 3 in Tanjay City, a police report said.
The police tagged saga as a “High Value Target”.
Recovered from Saga was suspected methamphetamine hydrochloride, locally known as "shabu," weighing about 11 grams with an estimated value of P165,000.
Operatives of the Negros Oriental PNP Provincial Office/Provincial Drug Enforcement Unit, led by Senior Inspector Don Richmond Conag, the Provincial Intelligence Bureau/Special Operations Group, the Philippine Drug Enforcement Agency, the Provincial Public Safety Company and the Tanjay City police station embarked on a joint entrapment operation through the conduct of a drug bust operation to apprehend Saga.
Saga allegedly immediately drove his motorcycle upon sensing that it was an entrapment operation, after allegedly selling one plastic sachet containing suspected "shabu" granules to an undercover agent.
The operatives chased the suspect, but the latter allegedly pulled out his gun and fired at them, prompting them to fire back.
Saga died on the spot.
A subsequent search of the slain suspect yielded two more large heat-sealed transparent plastic sachets containing suspected "shabu" granules, one piece caliber .38 revolver with three live ammunition, one fired cartridge, a mobile phone, sunglasses, and the motorcycle that Saga drove. (PNA)