A drug offender who was earlier named by Ricky Serenio, former bagman for the Berya drug group, was killed yesterday morning following a buy-bust operation in Bacolod City’s Barangay Vista Alegre.
Police identified the fatality as 34-year-old Billy Bantayanon, a resident of Gonzaga Extension in the city’s Barangay 28.
According to Regional Drug Enforcement Unit-6 (RDEU-6) team leader, Police Lieutenant Thurslie Castillo, when Bantayanon handed a sachet of suspected shabu to the undercover cop, he discovered police were already in the area, prompting him to open fire.
Police immediately returned fire.
The suspect reportedly continued to exchange fire with the cops despite being mortally wounded.
The gun battle ended after Bantayanon succumbed to his wounds and died on the spot.
Police recovered 15 sachets of suspected shabu with a total weight of 75 grams and valued at P225,000.
Cops also seized the suspect’s .45 caliber pistol and the motorcycle he used as a getaway vehicle.
Police are now conducting a follow-up investigation into the suspect’s background./DGB, WDJ