Slain drug suspect ‘begged for his life’
A man whose name was in the watchlist of the Philippine Drug Enforcement Agency was shot dead by police officers after supposedly begging for his life in an alleged encounter in Valenzuela City Wednesday night.
Christian Padilla, 25, was killed by police after allegedly handing over two sachets of shabu to an undercover police officer and then fighting back along Road 1 in Malanday, Valenzuela at around 7:30 p.m.
Padilla’s wife Rhegine said her husband was a victim of mistaken identity.
Padilla was inside their house cooking rice for dinner when police barged in, looking for him, she said.
Padilla broke down before the police officers and begged for his life before they shot him at close range, Rhegine told
The STAR in an interview. Police recovered a caliber .38 revolver from the suspect, who police said was allegedly involved in robberies.
Padilla had a previous case of attempted robbery and frustrated homicide but these have been dismissed, his wife said.
She denied her husband was armed, and said that he had quit using drugs.
Padilla, a construction worker, left behind a pregnant wife and three children aged five, four and one.
1 dead, 2 hurt in drug sting
In Manila, a drug suspect was killed while two motorists were wounded during a sting in Tondo Wednesday night.
Winefredo Tumalad, 45, and a companion arrived in a black Nissan Cefiro (WNE213) at the parking lot of a fastfood restaurant at the corner of Zaragosa street and Road 10 at around 9 p.m., according to the Manila Police District (MPD) Station 2.
Police Officer 1 Jomar Caliguiran, who posed as a buyer, transacted with them and gave the signal to arrest the suspects, the MPD said.
Tumalad, who was at the wheel, tried to drive away but hit the motorcycle driven by James Paul Tuazon. His companion shot at the lawmen but hit bystander Janitha Ibañez, 54, in the legs, the MPD added.
The suspects jumped out of the car after they were stuck in traffic. They allegedly continued shooting at the policemen, who fired back.
Police Officer 1 Jerry Saratobias was saved by his bulletproof vest when a bullet hit him in the abdomen.
Probers recovered several sachets of shabu, a weighing scale and two caliber .38 revolvers at the crime scene.