Drug ‘dealer’ shot dead

SAN FERNANDO CITY, La Union -- A suspected drug pusher was shot and killed as he tried to grab the service firearm of a Philippine Drug Enforcement t Agency Regional Office agent late afternoon of June 6.

Bismarck Bengwayan, regional PDEA information officer said acting on several intelligence reports that Jojo Mamaril also known as “Tatu” was selling drugs, narcotics agents and San Fernando City police initiated a test-buy operation to verify reports.

Tasked with the job, agent Ricky Ramos with a confidential agent proceeded to Purok 6 of Barangay San Francisco, to transact with the suspect.

Tatu signaled Ramos in a dark secluded area where the exchange of money and illegal drugs took place.

It was through sheer coincidence that Tatu suddenly recognized Ramos as an undercover operative and immediately accused Ricky of setting him up.

Sensing trouble, the narcotics agent took out his badge and Cal. 45 pistol and declared himself as PDEA agent which drove the drug peddling suspect to grab the gun.

In the course of the scuffle a shot was fired hitting the drug suspect before backup could arrive.  

A packet of methamphetamine hydrochloride otherwise known as shabu was recovered in the area.

Ramos identified himself as a law enforcer to the gathering crowd and asked somebody to call an ambulance while he immediately called his superiors.

Mamaril was declared dead on arrival by physicians of the Ilocos Training and Medical Center in this city.