A suspected drug pusher and his two companions were killed in a buy-bust operation when they opted to engage the police officers in a shootout in Port Area, Manila, Sunday night.
Investigators said Robby Lucas, 29; Sahir Mohammad Amar, 35; and their unidentified cohort all died on the spot in the encounter.
Investigation showed that Lucas carried out a drug deal with police poseur-buyer at 11:05 p.m. inside his house at the corner of 14th and Delgado Streets, Port Area.
However, when the deal was closed, Lucas realized that it was a trap, prompting him to pull his gun out and fired shots at the police. A brief shootout ensued, killing Lucas and his companions, police said.
Senior Inspector Dave Garcia of Ermita Police Station said Lucas had been hunted down and was even summoned to surrender under the Oplan Tokhang but he never did.
Lucas is on the watchlist of the Ermita Police since then, Garcia said.
Garcia also bared that Lucas’ house was used as a drug den.
He said that they were finally able to make a deal with Lucas after several attempts because “he hid very well.”
Two firearms – a Smith & Wesson .357-caliber revolver and a 9mm pistol, four sachets of suspected shabu and several drug paraphernalia were recovered from the scene.
According to police, the .357-caliber revolver was the gun used by Lucas in the shootout with police operatives.
Police have yet to establish the name of Lucas’ unidentified cohort described as about medium built, 5’6” tall and around 35 to 40 years old.
Amar, on the other hand, was identified through his driver’s license found in his possession. He is a resident of New Site, Baseco, Port Area.
The bodies of the suspects were moved to St. Rich Funeral for examination and safekeeping, police said.
(BETHEENA KAE UNITE)