BY MAE SINGUAY and DOMINIQUE GABRIEL BANAGA
BACOLOD City – Two “high-value” drug suspects were hospitalized following an encounter with government operatives in a buy-bust operation in Barangay Villamonte yesterday.
Elements of the Police Regional Office 6’s Drug Enforcement Unit identified them as Xiever Louis “Boss” Rosales and Hilda Trujillo, both residents of this city’s Barangay Banago.
The suspects initially sold four sachets of suspected shabu to an undercover officer for P44,500, a police report showed.
However, when the suspects discovered they were dealing with an undercover cop, they allegedly opened fire and attempted to escape using their pickup truck.
Police operatives fired back. The suspects’ vehicle crashed against a parked truck.
Both suspects were immediately rushed to the Corazon Locsin Montelibano Memorial Regional Hospital for treatment. As of press time the Bacolod City Police Office was yet to give an update on their medical conditions.
A search of the vehicle revealed two plastic bags containing 52 sachets of suspected shabu valued at P2,584,000, and a .45 caliber pistol.
The suspects were alleged members of the notorious Divinagracia drug group.
Aside from illegal drug charges, the suspects could also face charges of illegal possession of firearms./PN
