By Dominique Gabriel G. Bañaga

A police officer who has been absent without official leave (AWOL) was shot dead by City Drug Enforcement Agency (CDEU) operatives during a buy-bust operation early yesterday morning in Barangay 20, Bacolod City.

Police identified the fatality as Police Officer 3 (PO3) Richard Dollosa, who was previously assigned to the Negros Occidental Police Provincial Office (NOPPO).

Cops also arrested Dollosa’s suspected companions, identified as 23-year-old Jessie Concengco of Barangay Sto. Rosario, Binalbagan; and Paul Chavez, a resident of East Homes in Barangay Estefania, Bacolod City.

BCPO director, Police Senior Superintendent Francisco Ebreo, said, based on their initial investigation, CDEU operatives were conducting a buy-bust operation in the area when they spotted Dollosa.

When they approached the police officer for questioning, Dollosa pulled out a .45 caliber firearm and opened fire.

CDEU units returned fire, striking Dollosa several times, while they arrested Concengco and Chavez.

Police immediately rushed the suspect to the Corazon Locsin Montelibano Memorial Regional Hospital, where he was declared dead on arrival by medical staff.

Police recovered three elongated and two big sachets of suspected shabu, P1,000 of suspected drug money, and the .45 caliber pistol allegedly used by Dollosa.

The arrested suspects face illegal drugs charges and are detained at Police Station 4./DGB, WDJ