A 39-year-old pedicab driver was killed when he engaged policemen in a shootout during a drug sting in Tondo, Manila, Tuesday night.
Jefferson Falculan, of 1398 Concha Street,Tondo, succumbed to several bullet wounds in the body while being rushed to Gat Andres Bonifacio Memorial Medical Center.
The anti-illegal drugs unit of Manila Police District (MPD) Station 1 launched a buy-bust operation against Falculan after he was tagged as a drug user and pusher in the police drug watchlist, according to SPO4 Glenzor Vallejo, investigator of MPD homicide section.
Initial investigation showed at around 8:45 p.m., Falculan carried out a drug deal with a police posing as a buyer of R500 worth of shabu on Road 10 corner of Chesa Street.
After the deal was closed, Falculan sensed that his client is a policeman. He allegedly opened fire at the cop, prompting the latter to fire back, killing him.
Police recovered from Falculan two plastic sachets of shabu with street value of P5,000, a .38-caliber Smith and Wesson revolver and the marked money. (Analou de Vera)