LEGAZPI CITY – A former police officer who went absent without official leave (AWOL) was killed in a buy-bust in Barangay Del Carmen, San Jose town in Camarines Sur Monday night.

In an interview on Tuesday, Major Malou Calubaquib, Police Regional Office 5 (PRO5) spokesperson identified the suspect as Vicente Imperial, a resident of the said village.

She said the anti-drug operation was launched by joint elements of the Philippine Drug Enforcement Agency (PDEA) and the provincial and local police forces in Camarines Sur.

“Sensing that he was transacting with police operatives, the suspect drew his gun and shot it out with the buy-bust operators,” Calubaquib said.

She said Imperial was placed under AWOL status when he went missing after getting involved in several illegal drug transactions.

Police operatives recovered from the body of the suspect 40 small plastic sachets of suspected shabu, a 9mm pistol, and PHP13,000 buy-bust money.

Meanwhile, in Camarines Norte, two suspects identified only through their alias were caught in a buy-bust with PHP1.9-million shabu at around 9:30 a.m. on Tuesday in Barangay Sta. Rosa Sur, Jose Panganiban town.

The police identified them as “Randy,” 23, a resident of Purok 4, Barangay Parang, Jose Panganiban, and “Mark,” 32, of Purok 1, Barangay Tugos, Paracale town.

The illegal substance was placed in a large piece of paper wrapped with masking tape. It weighed 280 grams and estimated to be worth PHP1.9 million.

Also recovered by the police were two motorcycles used by the suspects in drug peddling. (PNA)