Barangay kagawad shot dead in Ligao City buy bust

By Celso Amo LEGAZPI CITY --- A barangay kagawad in Barangay Bay, Ligao City died during a sting operation after he shot it out with members of a joint anti-illegal drugs operations group from the Philippine National Police Wednesday (July 11) morning. Barangay Kagawad July Ronatay was handed P2,000 cash for illegal drugs by a poseur-buyer in Barangay Tuburan when the shooting incident ensued, according to Senior Inspector Malou Calubaquib, Bicol PNP spokesperson. The suspect, upon sensing that the buyer was a policeman, drew his cal. 45 pistol and fired at the policeman, triggering an exchange of gunfire at about 7:05 a.m. yesterday. Ronatay was hit and brought to Belmonte Duran Memorial District Hospital for treatment but was declared dead on arrival by the attending physician. “He has long been under surveillance by our anti-illegal drugs operatives and this time we got him,” said Supt. Lorenzo Bacia, Ligao City police chief. Supt. Bacia said the joint anti-illegal drugs team was composed of operatives from the Ligao City police, the Philippine National Police Regional Intelligence Division, Police Intelligence Batallion, and Albay First Provincial Mobile Company. Probers from Ligao City police immediately conducted an investigation on the incident. Meanwhile, Edwin Peralta y Bruma, 37, a resident of Barangay Busay in Daraga, Albay was collared by Barangay chairman Herculano Preña during a shabu session in Barangay Pinit, alsso in Ligao City. Recovered from Peralta were two sachets of shabu and two strips of aluminum foil. In Buhi, Camarines Sur, one Christian Onquit y Talaguit, 21, of Barangay Sta.Justina, Buhi town, was also nabbed during a sting operation conducted by anti-illegal drugs operatives at about 1:25 a.m. on Wednesday. Recovered from Onquit were a sachet of shabu and P500 marked money.