AN ALLEGED leader of a drug syndicate in Negros Occidental and level three high value target in Western Visayas was killed after he resisted arrest from police operatives in a drug bust at Barangay 6, Victorias City, Negros Occidental Sunday, April 28.
An estimated P2.7 million worth of suspected illegal drugs were also seized in the operation.
Police Lieutenant Colonel Eduardo Corpuz, city police chief, identified the fatality as Leoner Jalandoon of Barangay Banago, Bacolod City.
Corpuz said Jalandoon reportedly fired at the operatives using his .38 caliber when he noticed a policeman outside his rented apartment after the transaction was made with a police agent past 8 a.m.
Police retaliated which caused his death, Corpuz said.
Corpuz added the suspect was armed and very dangerous, as he was even holding a grenade during the raid.
But he did not remove the pin, Corpuz said, adding that nobody from the policemen were injured.
Corpuz said they wanted to do the operation in a peaceful manner but there was already danger on their part.
“Gusto niya (Jalandoon) talaga mamatay kasi pinaputukan niya kami” (He really wanted to die because he fired at us), Corpuz said.
Despite the death of Jalandoon, Corpuz said they considered it as a legitimate operation which was led by the Regional Drug Enforcement Unit (RDEU) in coordination with the City Intelligence Unit (CIU) of the Bacolod City Police Office (BCPO), Victorias City Police Station, and Naval Intelligence and Security Force (NISF).
Police recovered from Jalandoon’s apartment 101 sachets of suspected shabu (methamphetamine hydrochloride) worth P2,727,000, weighing scale, P27,000 marked money, and drug paraphernalia. They also seized from his possession a sachet of suspected shabu.
Earlier, authorities arrested two alleged members of Jalandoon’s drug group after they yielded P9.6 million worth of illegal drugs in a buy- bust at Barangay Singcang-Airport, Bacolod City on April 5.
The city police chief said Jalandoon was an alleged drug supplier in the region which was earlier mentioned by President Rodrigo Duterte during his visit in the province.
Corpuz said Jalandoon rented the apartment in Victorias City on April 25 and upon learning his location, operatives then conducted the raid.
“He is really one of the big suppliers of illegal drugs not just in Negros but in the entire region,” Corpuz said.
Corpuz said Jalandoon was the boss of Ramy Poja who was also killed in a police operation at Barangay Banago last year.
Poja was the righthand of Jalandoon, Corpuz added.
Also arrested was Jalandoon’s partner, Janine Cruz, 18, of Barangay 16, Bacolod City.
Cruz is detained at the city police station while charges will be filed against her.
Corpuz said Cruz was sleeping when the raid happened, but she is also allegedly involved in her partner’s illegal drug trade.
Meanwhile, an alleged drug suspect was also killed while a minor was rescued in a drug raid at Barangay E. Lopez, Silay City on April 26.
Police identified the fatality as Ronilo Morillo, 39, of the said village. He was under the target drugs list of Silay City Police Station.
Police Major Rollie Pondevilla, city police chief, said Morillo tried to evade arrest when he allegedly fired at the police operatives, which prompted the latter to retaliate.
Pondevilla said policemen defended themselves from danger and considered it as a legitimate operation.
Police recovered from Morillo a .38 caliber revolver, four ammunition, and a fired cartridge case of the said firearm while authorities recovered from the crime scene four live ammunition and five fired cartridge case of .45 caliber.
Pondevilla said the suspect allegedly distributes drugs in neighboring areas of E.B. Magalona town and Victorias City.
He also said that a female minor was rescued from the custody of the suspect, after the latter brought her in Silay City from E.B. Magalona town without the consent of her parents.
Pondevilla, however, said the female teenager has no participation in the drug trade. She was turned over to the police in E.B. Magalona.
Aside from the rescued minor, police arrested Reynaldo Dionela, 34, of the said village after operatives seized 13 sachets of suspected shabu weighing six grams worth P90,000, drug paraphernalia, three motorcycles, the P500 marked money, and P5,000 boodle money.
He said Dionela will be facing charges for illegal possession of dangerous drugs and drug paraphernalia.