Policeman wounded in Cavite anti-drug clash

CAMP GEN. PANTALEON GARCIA, IMUS, Cavite---A policeman was wounded when he was shot by one of two drug suspects during an anti-drug operation Thursday in Bacoor City.

Patrolman Emidio Carag of the Bacoor Intelligence-Drug Enforcement Team took a bullet in the left abdomen and was treated at a hospital.

He was shot by Nasrudin Ayob Libas after Libas and Rene Baginais Kendayo resisted arrest during the bust.

Carag's colleagues fire back at Libas but missed.

Libas and Kendayo were eventually collared by the team when the Toyota Innova that Kendayo drove off with stalled after crashing into a blocking police car.

Recovered from the two were a .9mm pistol with a magazine loaded with five bullets and four shells in the vicinity and shabu weighing 25.9 grams and worth P176,120.

The incident happened in front of a gasoline station, it was gathered.

Lt. Col. Vicente S. Cabatingan, Bacoor police chief, said Kendayo was in the Bacoor police and Philippine Drug Enforcement Authority (PDEA) drug watch lists as a big-time drug pusher, while Libas is a new drug player.

Master Sergeant Christian Rosales, case investigator, reported that charges of attempted murder and drug pushing charges will be filed against the suspects who are detained at the Bacoor police custodial facility.

It was the second anti-drug encounter in Bacoor in 12 hours on Thursday. Two drug suspects died and two others were arrested by police in the first incident on Rainbow Ave., Camella Homes, Springville, Barangay Molino III at 1 a.m.