Intel cop on PRRD 'narco list' slain in Koronadal drug bust

GENERAL SANTOS CITY -- A police intelligence officer on President Rodrigo R. Duterte's "narco list" was killed in an encounter with joint operatives in Koronadal Cty on Saturday night.

Supt. Benjiel Kirby Bajo, Koronadal City police chief, identified the slain suspect as Police Officer 1 (PO1) Rommel Barcellano alias "Banjo", 38, member of the Provincial Intelligence Branch of the South Cotabato Police Provincial Office.

He said the suspect was subjected to a buy-bust at about 7:45 p.m. by joint operatives led by personnel from the Philippine National Police's (PNP) CounterIntelligence Task Force (CITF) at the Tajmia Economy Suites located in Block 1 of Osita Subdivision in Barangay Zone 3.

The operation was backed by elements of the 4th Special Action Force Battalion, PNP Intelligence Group, Philippine Drug Enforcement Agency 12 (Soccsksargen) and the Koronadal City police station.

During the entrapment, Bajo said PO1 Barcellano sold a sachet of suspected “shabu” (crystal meth) worth PHP1,000 to a police officer who posed as a buyer.

The transaction happened outside the suspect's rented room at the Tajmia Economy Suites, he said.

As other operatives approached to make the arrest, the police official said the suspect resisted and drew a caliber .45 handgun, resulting in an "armed confrontation."

"(PO1 Barcellano) fired upon the arresting team after sensing that he was dealing with an undercover (operative)," he said.

Bajo said the operating team retaliated "to defend themselves," fatally hitting the suspect in the process. The latter died on-the-spot due to three gunshot wounds in his body.

Recovered from the suspect were two more large packs of suspected shabu weighing about 10 grams, a caliber .45 handgun with two loaded magazines, knife, handcuffs, two mobile phones, and PHP1,000 marked bill used in the buy-bust.

A report from the CITF said the suspect was listed as a Level 2 drug personality in President Rodrigo Duterte's drug list.

Barcellano was a former member of the intelligence section of the Koronadal City police station and was reassigned early this year to the South Cotabato police.