Notorious pusher slain

A dreaded drug pusher was shot to death by Manila Police District (MPD) operatives after he resisted arrest last Saturday afternoon in Sta. Cruz, Manila.

The suspect was identified as Henry Bargamento, alias Toto, age between 35 to 40, and resident of a shanty beside the creek on Fugoso Street, Sta. Cruz, Manila.

Based on the investigation by Richard Escarlan of the MPD-Homicide section, the shootout occurred at 2:10 p.m. during a buy-bust operation conducted against the suspect by police, led P/Lt. Col. Reynaldo Magdaluyo, station commander of the Sta. Cruz Police Station 3.

An undercover policeman posed as a buyer and made a deal with Bargamento. However, when he sensed that he was dealing with the authorities, the suspect managed to run inside his shanty to get his gun and fired at the lawmen, who retaliated and hit him on the body.

The suspect was declared dead on arrival at the Jose Reyes Memorial Medical Center.

Recovered from his possession were nine plastic sachets with suspected shabu weighing 5.7 grams with a street value at P2,000, a 9mm caliber pistol and two empty shells.