Three alleged drug personalities were killed in a buy-bust operation in Navotas City yesterday.
Police identified the suspects as Jay-ar Jumola, Arnel Bagamasbad, and a certain “Gurang.” Their cohort, a certain “Vandam,” remains at large, police said.
Investigation showed that the Navotas police Station Drug Enforcement Unit conducted a buy-bust operation against the quartet in an alley in Barangay North Bay Boulevard South at around 2:50 a.m.
However, the suspects sensed that they were dealing with police operatives and opened fire at them. Police returned fire, killing Jumola, Bagamasbad, and Gurang, while Vandam managed to escape.
Jay-ar’s mother, Christina, does not believe that his son was killed in the operation. She said a witness heard her son pleading to police: “Sir, mag-aaral pa ako, ‘wag nyo akong patayin.”
She added that Jay-ar sustained black eyes and a bullet wound.
Christina said that what happened to Jay-ar is similar to his brother Anthony, who was found dead in March 2017 two days after he was accosted by barangay officials for being drunk and possessing shabu. (Joseph Pedrajas)