Drug suspect killed in Ermita, cohort escapes

January 8, 2021

One of  two high-value drug suspects targeted by the Philippine National Police- Drug Enforcement Group (PDEG) was killed in an encounter in Manila early Friday morning.

PNP chief General Debold Sinas said a certain “Kuya” was killed in a follow-up operation in Ermita.

Sinas said ''Kuya ''and a certain Ish Aguilar were being pursued after they escaped from a buy-bust  in Cainta, Rizal last Thursday.

In Cainta, Aguilar’s live-in partner, Khrystyn Pimentel, was also arrested and operatives discovered a kitchen-type clandestine laboratory.

In that sting, around P3.4 million worth of party drugs or ecstasy of around 2,000 tablets, one kilo of shabu amounting to P6.8 million and an undetermined amount of 10 small pack of high-grade marijuana were confiscated.

Sinas said ''Kuya'' was covering Aguilar so he could escape.

Recovered from ''Kuya'' were 800 tablets of suspected ecstasy amounting to P1, 360, 000; two plastic sachets of suspected shabu amounting to P340, 000 and a pistol.

"Both suspects are notorious distributors of illegal drugs in Metro Manila and other nearby provinces who get their supply of illegal drugs through foreign and Filipino friends,” Sinas said.

He added Aguilar only makes transactions through “Kuya”.

“According to revelations made by Pimentel, Aguilar was deported from the United States over a drug case. He reportedly distributes drugs locally through a certain Gian and via courier service,” Sinas said.

“PNP-DEG agents also discovered laboratory equipment believed used to re-process or re-cook shabu by adulterating it with other chemical compounds to increase the volume of the finished product for greater profit,” he added.

Aguilar, who is reportedly related to Jason Ivler, who serving a 40-year sentence for a road rage case, escaped onboard a SUV and is a subject of another follow-up operation.

Pimentel and the confiscated evidence are now at the PDEG headquarters in Camp Crame. Ella Dionisio/DMS