An alleged drug group leader in Quezon City was killed when he allegedly tried to fight it out it out with policemen during an entrapment operation Thursday afternoon.
The Quezon City Police District (QCPD) identified the slain suspect as Marvin Panes,30, considered as a high value drug target for leading the “Panes Drug Group” which was also involved in robbery and motorcycle incidents in Fairview Area.
His 27-year-old live-in partner, Catherine Young, was arrested during the buy-bust operation carried out by members of Fairview Police Station (PS5) around 2 p.m. in an apartelle on Dahlia Avenue in Fairview Park Subdivision, Barangay Greater Fairview.
Police said Panes was also the subject of an operation recently but only two of his group members were arrested.
Listed in the PS-5’s drug watchlist, Panes surrendered in two Oplan Tokhang operations – on July 20, 2016 and last March 10.
The QCPD said they continued monitoring his activities and confirmed that he had not ceased his criminal activities.
PS5 anti-drug operatives on Thursday arranged a drug deal with Panes who agreed to meet a poseur-buyer in a room of the apartelle.
Based on the QCPD report, the lone “buyer” entered the room to purchase from Panes P300 worth of shabu. But another operative reportedly sensed that his colleague was “in imminent danger”, prompting him to rush to the room.
Panes, surprised by the agent, allegedly tried to get his firearm from his bag, forcing the operatives to fire shots him.
Panes succumbed to two gunshot wounds in the head, police said.
Young, meanwhile, surrendered to police and was brought to the PS-5 detention cell. She will be charged for violating RA 9165, The Comprehensive Dangerous Drugs Act of 2002.
Investigators seized from the couple a .45-caliber pistol with five bullets, two sachets of shabu and the buy-bust money. (Vanne Elaine Terrazola)