Recently-appointed Negros Oriental Police Provincial Office (NOrPPO) Camp Francisco Fernandez, Jr. commander, Police Senior Inspector Raymond Hortezuela, was killed following a Sunday buy-bust in Mandaue City, Cebu after allegedly resisting arrest.

According to Police Regional Office-7 (PRO-7) director, Police Chief Superintendent Debold Sinas, Hortezuela was considered a high-value target.

Around 7:50 p.m., Philippine National Police Counter Intelligence Task Force, PRO-7 Special Operations Group, and Mandaue City Police Office Drug Enforcement Unit operatives conducted the operation, where a police poseur-buyer managed to purchase suspected shabu for P2,000 from Hortezuela.

As law enforcement moved in, the suspect allegedly drew a pistol, prompting police to open fire.

Hortezuela was later brought to the Mandaue District Hospital, where he was pronounced dead on arrival.

Police recovered from the crime scene a loaded caliber .45 pistol, seven empty shell pieces, P2,000 in marked money, and cash money amounting to P68,830.

A blue Honda vehicle, believed to have been carnapped, was also seized, where a 9mm pistol, loaded with 15 live bullets, was found in the backseat. Another five caliber .45 bullets were found in the arm rest.

NOrPPO director, Police Senior Superintendent Raul Tacaca, in an interview with GMA News, said he was shocked.

Hortezuela was transferred last month from the Cebu City Police Office, where Sinas said he was already a target, despite testing negative on drug tests.

Besides being accused of being a drug user, the slain police officer was said to have “recycled” confiscated shabu.

The police officer was also allegedly linked to slain drug lord Jeffrey ‘Jaguar’ Diaz, who was believed to have supplied drugs for dealers operating in Negros./WDJ