A cop assigned at the Manila Police District-Station Drug Enforcement was killed while his colleague was wounded in a buy-bust operation at the Islamic Center in San Miguel, Manila Friday night.
The slain cop was identified as 45-year-old SPO2 Randy Marlon Lebrilla, who died while undergoing treatment at the Jose Reyes Memorial Medical Center on Rizal Ave. in Manila while the wounded still under observation at Chinese General Hospital in Sampaloc, Manila was PO1 Mark Pineda, 26.
Reports showed that an informant reported to the MPD-SED the alleged rampant selling of illegal drugs at the house of 27-year-old Codeng Macabato, alias “Verdugo,” on Matanos St.
Macabato was reportedly a nephew of Barangay 648, Manila Chairman Faiz Macabato who was killed in an anti-illegal drugs operation in October last year.
A team led by Lebrilla was sent to conduct a buy bust operation against the suspect with Pineda acting as poseur-buyer. Pineda signalled to other cops at the end of the deal and this enabled Codeng to sense he was dealing with a cop and shot Pineda in the chest.
Lebrilla and other operatives returned fired but the former was shot. Codeng and Pineda were taken to the Mary Chiles Hospital in Manila where the suspect was declared dead on arrival.
Pineda was transferred to the CGH after a few hours.
Twenty fired cartridge cases, four deformed bullets, several bullet fragments, and various drug paraphernalia were found in the encounter site. (JAIMIE ROSE R. ABERIA)