By Dominique Gabriel G. Bañaga

A suspected drug personality was killed yesterday morning after engaging in a shootout with police officers during a buy-bust operation in Barangay Poblacion 1, Sagay City.

Police identified the fatality as Leobon ‘Nonoy’ Charita, a resident of Barangay Old Sagay in the said city.

Sagay City police chief, Police Chief Inspector Antonio Benitez, Jr., said they were conducting a buy-bust operation against Charita when the latter discovered he was dealing with an undercover cop.

The suspect immediately opened fire, hitting Senior Police Officer 1 Ronnie Sanico in the abdomen. The cop, however, was saved by the bulletproof vest he was wearing.

Sagay City police then returned fire neutralizing Charita.

Cops immediately rushed the suspect to the Lopez District Hospital but he was declared dead on arrival by hospital staff.

Police recovered a loaded .38 caliber revolver, five small and one big sachet of suspected shabu, and the P500 marked money from Charita./DGB, WDJ