CATBALOGAN, Samar—A local musician who was a member of the Philippine Army here was killed in a shootout with police operatives Wednesday after a drug buy-bust conducted by the Philippine National Police Anti-Illegal Drugs Special Operations Task Group.
The police identified the suspect as Albert Julaton, a resident of P5 Canlapwas in this city.
Based on the police records, the PNP task group bought a sachet of metamphetamine hydrochloride or “shabu” from Julaton at 10 p.m. in front of a grocery store at Pier 1, Barangay 6.
When the suspect realized that his customer was a policeman and sensed the presence of other police operatives in the area he immediately fled on his motorcycle eastward on Curry Avenue.
Julaton was cornered by chasing policemen at P2 of Barangay 7, this city, and reportedly drew a short firearm, prompting the police to open fire at him.
The suspect was brought to the Samar Provincial Hospital that declared him dead-on-arrival from bullet wounds.
The spot report of the city police states that Julaton is one of the new drug personalities on their updated most-wanted list based on the statements of the PNP Oplan Tokhang surrenderees.
