Ex-Mindoro town councilor killed in drug sting

CALAPAN CITY, Oriental Mindoro - A former municipal councilor, considered a high-value target in the Philippine National Police’s war on illegal drugs, was killed during an entrapment operation in Barangay Ordovilla, Victoria town Thursday night.

Senior Superintendent Christopher C. Birung, Oriental Mindoro provincial police director, identified the latest casualty in the intensified war on illegal drugs as Rowell P. Ganad, 32, former municipal councilor of Victoria and a resident of Barangay Poblacion 3.

Initial investigation showed that at around 8:30 p.m. last June 15, the Victoria police Station Police Provincial Intelligence Branch set up a buy-bust operation involving Ganad and a cohort.

When Ganad sensed the sting, he reportedly drew his firearm, a .38 calibher revolver, and shot it out with the undercover buyer and police officers who served as lookouts and backups.

Ganad was badly wounded in the gun battle and was rushed to the Umali Medical Clinic in Poblacion 1, where he was declared dead on arrival.

Scene of the Crime Operatives recovered from the fatality six sachets of shabu.

Meantime in Calapan City, Jay-Ar R. Macapas of Barangay Tawiran was also arrested in a buy-bust operation by operatives from the Calapan police’s Drug Enforcement Unit and Philippine Drug Enforcement Agency.