By Dominique Gabriel G. Bañaga

Two police officers were wounded during a drug buy-bust operation which turned into a shootout at Barangay Magallon Cadre in Negros Occidental’s Moises Padilla town late Wednesday night, May 17.

Authorities identified the wounded as Police Corporals Victor Leaño and Artemio Napao II, operatives of the town police Station Drug Enforcement Team (SDET).

Town police chief, Major Joevito Bose, said they conducted a buy-bust operation against 35-year-old Jeffrey Cabato.

The suspect discovered that he was transacting with undercover cops, and allegedly drew an undetermined caliber of firearm.

He allegedly shot Leaño and Napao as they were about to make the arrest.

A back-up SDET team immediately responded, while Cabato managed to elude the police.

Both wounded police officers were rushed to a private hospital in Bacolod City after sustaining gunshot wounds in the legs.

According to Bose, Cabato is a notorious drug suspect, listed as a street level individual.

The police chief said the suspect was placed under police surveillance for several months.

His illicit drug business extends to the neighboring La Castellana town, police said.

Police were able to recover five grams of suspected shabu with an estimated market value of P34,000 at the crime scene, and drug paraphernalia.

A manhunt operation against Cabato is still ongoing.

Aside from the drug-related charges, he could further face attempted murder charges./DGB, WDJ