By AARON RECUENCO
Police have uncovered a new strategy of drug peddlers in disposing shabu following the death of a suspected drug pusher in a buy-bust in Odiongan town of Romblon.
Chief Supt. Emmanuel Licup, director of the MIMAROPA (Mindoro Occidental and Oriental, Marinduque, Romblon and Palawan) regional police, said the slain suspect came all the way from Batangas to sell drugs.
He identified the slain suspect as Rolando Medina, 49, a resident of Malabanan, Balite, Batangas.
The death of Medina confirmed intelligence reports that some drug pushers are swapping territories in order to avoid detection of the police.
Police sources said that drug pushers who are already listed in watchlist in their respective areas of operations would trade territory with fellow drug pushers. They would then exchange contacts with their customers.
Medina was killed after he allegedly traded with shots with policemen during a buy-bust in Barangay Liwanag, Odiongan town at around 3 p.m. on Tuesday.
Seized from him were a .38 revolver and P30,000 worth of shabu.
In the case of Medina, Licup said the suspect is already a listed high-value target in the region.
In Bulacan, a certain Hapon was also killed when he allegedly tried to kill a police poseur-buyer in Barangay Mulawin, San Jose del Monte City.