A POLICEMAN acting as a poseur-buyer in an anti-illegal drug operation in Barangay Mambaling on Tuesday, Feb. 11, 2020, was shot and died upon reaching the hospital.
Cebu City Police Office (CCPO) Officer-in-charge Engelbert Soriano identified the fatality as Police Master Sergeant Maximo Macua, Jr., a member of the Police Drug Enforcement Group (PDEG).
Macua was already dead when rushed to the Adventist Hospital Cebu or Miller Hospital.
Soriano said they were not certain where Macua was hit.
Mambaling Police Chief, Police Major Francis Talosig said PDEG operatives conducted a buy-bust past 6 p.m. Tuesday.
Initial reports said the target of the operation noticed Macua as a policeman and immediately shot the latter.
Other members of PDEG were able to fire back, but the suspect, who was injured, was able to escape police authorities.
As of this writing, police have not named the suspect.
Meanwhile, more than P5.8 million worth of drugs was seized in two separate police operations on Monday, Feb. 10, 2020.
The drug haul is the biggest so far since Police Regional Office Director Brig. Gen. Albert Ignatius Ferro took over the regional police leadership.
A joint operation by the Regional Intelligence Division, Regional Drug Enforcement Unit and Philippine Drug Enforcement Agency arrested the couple, Gerry Mullanida and Cindi Marie Eniciula in a buy-bust in Barangay Ermita.
Recovered from the couple were packs of shabu worth P1.3 million.
In a separate police operation conducted by the Drug Enforcement Unit of Station 4 in Barangay Hipodromo, three suspects were arrested and P4.5 million worth of illegal drugs was seized.
Arrested were Roland Cabasaan, the target of the police operation, Rodel Dungog and Eduardo Chavez.
Mabolo Police Chief Police Major Dindo Juanito Alaras said Cabasaan was identified as the new drug supplier in the barangay.