Sorsogon PNP to charge dead man for drugs

Sorsogon City --- Police authorities are preparing charges against a high value drug peddler in the province following an anti-drug bust last January 22, 2020 in Bulan, Sorsogon.

In a press release issued by the Sorsogon Police Provincial Command through its Police Community Affairs and Development Branch, police identified the suspect as Rodolfo Somalinog, 59, and listed among the Top Ten regional drug personality in Bicol.

Probers are set to file charges for violation of Republic Act 9165 or the “The Comprehensive Dangerous Drugs Act of 2002” following the operation, the press release stated.

They, however, did not clarified in the report who they are going to charge as the suspect was shot dead during the operation. He was declared dead on arrival at the Pantaleon Gotladera Memorial Hospital.

The operation was conducted by joint forces of the local police, regional police intelligence office and the Philippines Drug Enforcement Authority (PDEA) which resulted to the confiscation of four small plastic sachets believed to contain “shabu”, P1,000 drug money and a .45 caliber pistol with ammunitions.

The illegal drugs had been turned over to the provincial crime laboratory for examination, the report added.

Col. Ramiro Bausa, Sorsogon police provincial director, said in the press release that Sumalinog shot it out with the police after sensing that he was dealing with a police asset and operatives were closing in on him after the drug deal.

The suspect was linked to the Deri Criminal Gang, a gun-for-hire group led by Ralph Deri who was killed in a police operation last July 28, 2019, it stated.

As of this writing, police authorities have yet to respond to the query as to who they are going to charge for the crime or if they could charge a dead man.