Sun.Star: Sacked cop linked to drugs killed

A former policeman dismissed for alleged drug trafficking was killed in a firefight with his former colleagues at a gasoline station in President Gloria Macapagal Arroyo's hometown of Lubao in Pampanga province Friday. Sun-Star Pampanga (www.sunstar.com.ph) reported Saturday that the fatality, PO2 Enelito "Neneng" Rivera, had been charged with drug trafficking in Floridablanca town in Pampanga. Rivera allegedly shot it out with operatives of the Philippine National Police (PNP) Regional Mobile Group (RMG) 3 in a brief firefight at a gasoline station in Sta. Monica village. Lubao police director Supt. Edwin Mangiliman said Rivera was the one who killed policeman Dome Aries Ferrer during a raid on a suspected methamphetamine hydrochloride (shabu) "tiangge" in Mabical village in Floridablanca town last April. In that incident, Ferrer was shot dead while leading policemen in serving a search warrant in Rivera's house in Mabical village. Ferrer, armed with high-powered firearms, managed to flee. Initial reports on Friday's incident indicated Rivera was cornered and arrested at the Guagua District Jail (GDJ) while visiting his girlfriend. While on their to bring Rivera to the 31st Mobile Company and RMG3 headquarters in the area, the arresting team stopped at a gasoline station to refuel. But as the team waited, Rivera suddenly got off the vehicle and fired at the arresting team, prompting them to fire back. Rivera sustained two gunshot wounds and died on the spot. Police recovered a cal-.38 revolver he used in the shootout, along with five mobile phone subscriber identity module (SIM) cards and four sachets of shabu. RMG-3 Chief Insp. Dan Gaylan said Rivera was invited for interrogation regarding his alleged involvement with an armed group operating in the second district. Prior to his arrest, Rivera visited his live-in partner Glordeliza Santos Pangilinan, who was detained at the district jail. Rivera tops the list of wanted drug personalities in the province. Police said he belongs to a big-time drug trafficking syndicate that distributes shabu in Pampanga. The gang is also active in robbery-hold-up activities, police said. - GMANews.TV