Fake cop, PDEA agent shot dead in drug bust

An alleged drug suspect whom authorities said posed as a Philippine Drug Enforcement Agency agent and a policeman was killed Wednesday evening in Barangay Mabolo, Cebu City.

PDEA-7 Spokesperson Leia Albiar said Ronald Aznar, 48, allegedly pretended to be one of their agents at one time and then as a Special Weapons and Tactics (SWAT) team member at another time.

"Target pud ni siya sa laing law enforcement units dili lang PDEA. Nagpakaaron-ingnon ni siya nga miyembro sa PDEA7. Nangutana gyud ang office nato sa PNP og naa bay miyembro nga (Ronald) kay naabot pud sa ilang buhatan nga kani pud siya ngpanggap nga SWAT," she said.

Aznar was killed in a shootout in Mabolo after he allegedly tried taking the gun of one of the PDEA operatives while they were on their way to his alleged illegal drug source in the barangay.

He was first subjected to a buy-bust operation on M.J Cuenco Avenue and right after the operation was successfully consummated, Aznar allegedly volunteered to bring the operatives to his main source of illegal drugs in Mabolo.

"So pag-abot gitangtangan siya sa posas. Pagtangtang sa posas kay giilog niya ang pusil, nailog gyud niya natumba ang usa ka agent maong napugos ang usa ka ahente sa pagpusil," said Albiar.

Aznar died on the way to the hospital.

Albiar said they were able to confiscate from Aznar a PDEA shirt, sling bag with PDEA logo, telescope, three fake identification cards, a .45 pistol, a Kevlar helmet, and 20 grams of suspected shabu worth P100, 000.

Aznar also had with him fake identification cards, including one that says he was with the Interpol. Albiar said they are tracing if the name in the identification cards were really his true name since the address does not exist.

"Mamaligya siya (drugs). Magpa-pretend siya nga law enforcer sa PDEA or SWAT nga aron og naay makakita kay dili siya badlungon," she said.

PDEA-7 Director Yogi Felimon Ruiz said Aznar's things, although marked "PDEA," were fake.

"Makita gyud nato nga fake, different ra kaayo ang printing (PDEA letters) dagko ra," he said.

He said Aznar allegedly has a group whose members pose as PDEA agents and conduct raids.

"Actually, daghan mi og madawat diri nga tawag, mangutana, nga naa moy operation ani diri nga lugar? Wala man kay naa may laing lakaw ang among mga agents. Ang SWAT mao pud. Naay manawag nila, 'nya wala pud (operation)," Albiar said.

She added that they will deepen the investigation into Aznar's activities to identify his cohorts.

"Among ipahibalo karon sa publiko nga if naa moy mailhan nga nagpaila nga usa ka PDEA agent, kuhaa ang ngalan ug itawag diri sa amoang opisina. I-confirm kay ang among mga agents dili man na magamit sa ilang tinuod nga ngalan, nagamit na sila'g codenames. Pero ilang codename usa ra gyud na. Og muhatag sila kay i-verify namo," said Albiar.

Moradas / RHM

OPERATIONS

Meanwhile, a level 2 high value target in Lapu-Lapu City was arrested in a buy-bust operation in Barangay Bankal yesterday morning. The suspect was identified as Roel "Pataw" Sorono, 27, a resident of the place.

Senior Inspector Genesis Anniversario, Station 2 police chief, said Sorono was a Tokhang surenderer last year, but reportedly continued his illegal drug trade.

Sorono, who had with him 13 packs of suspected shabu worth P47, 480, was in the city's top 10 of high-value targets.

Chief Inspector Mark Gifter Sucalit, City Intelligence Branch chief, said Sorono was one of three on the list that they managed to arrest in the past two weeks.

Meanwhile in separate operation, alleged street level drug pushers Jean Louis Danas, 42, and Jason Igot, 26, were arrested also in Barangay Bankal in a buy-bust operation.

Danas and Igot yielded a medium pack and 12 small packs of suspected shabu worth P27, 848.