BUTUAN CITY – A Spanish man marked as a high-value target in the anti-drug campaign was killed in a gunfight with lawmen during a buy-bust operation in Barangay 3, General Luna town, Siargao Island, Surigao del Norte province, before dawn Wednesday.
The suspect, identified as Diego Lapuente, was a high-value target of the Police Regional Office 13 (PRO 13), according to PRO 13 Regional Public Information Office (RPIO) head Maj. Renel E. Serrano.
Brig. Gen. Joselito T. Esquivel, Jr., PRO 13 director, said on Thursday the buy-bust operation was conducted at around 1:50 a.m. by members of General Luna Police, Surigao del Norte Police Provincial Office, 1302 Mobile Company, and the Philippine Drug Enforcement Agency.
He said the foreigner, upon sensing that he was dealing with law enforcers, allegedly fired shots at the lawmen. The law enforcers fired back, killing the suspect.
Police confiscated from the suspect 10 grams of cocaine, P30,000 marked money, and a .45-caliber pistol, the region’s police chief said.
The suspect was brought to Siargao Island District Hospital, but he was declared dead on arrival, Esquivel said. (Mike U. Crismundo)
