AN active member of the Bureau of Jail Management and Penology (BJMP) who is also allegedly a leader of the Villegas Drug Group was killed in an armed encounter with the Provincial Intelligence Unit (PIU), Regional Drugs Enforcement Unit and 2nd Laguna Provincial Mobile Force Company Thursday in Calamba City,Laguna.
A report submitted to Calabarzon Regional Director PBGen. Vicente Danao Jr. by PCol. Serafin Petalio II identified the slain suspect as JO3 Joseph Rey Villegas , 49, resident of 52 Calamba-Tagaytay Road, Bgy. Bunggo, Calamba City.
Villegas was an active BJMP and was assigned to San Pablo city BJMP facility. He is Included in the PRRD Special List, listed as one of the Priority High Value Individuals (HVI) in the provincial Level and leader of the Villegas Drug Group of the 2nd District of Laguna.
Reports said the Provincial Intelligence Unit (PIU) of Laguna PPO 2nd District Team together with the Regional Intelligence Division (RID-4A), Regional Special Operations Unit (RSOU-4A),1st Laguna Provincial Mobile Force Company (LPMFC) and Calamba City Police Station conducted the operation at 10:10 a.m. along the Barangay Road of Bunggo in Calamba City.
operation, the police personnel who acted as poseur buyer was able to buy from the suspect 1 heat-sealed transparent plastic sachet containing suspected shabu in consideration of 1 piece of pre-marked genuine one-thousand-peso bill that has been utilized as buy-bust money; however,
The suspect was about to sell P1,000 worth of shabu to a poseur-buyer when he sensed that he was dealing with a police operative.
The suspect took an undetermined caliber of firearm tucked in his waist and fired at the cop who was prompted to shoot back.
Seized from the suspect were a plastic sachet containing suspected shabu, the P1,000 buy bust money, Taurus pistol caliber 9mm chamber loaded with serial number TE091834 marked with BJMP Property with inserted magazine containing 6 cartridges, three fired cartridge cases of a 5.56 rifle, a brown sling bag containing two magazines of a cal. 9mm containimg 23 cartridges, plastic bag covered with masking tape containing 10 sachets of suspected shabu weighing approximately 50 grams (actual weight to be determine by SOCO) with a DDB value of P130,000, 23 cartridges of caliber 45 and 10 pieces of cartridges of cal. 9mm, 1 unit of black Suzuki Raider motorcycle with no attached plate.
The Villegas Drug Group operates within the 2nd District of Laguna particularly in the upland barangays of Calamba City and in nearby barangays covered by Tanauan City.
The illegal drugs allegedly came from High Value Drug Personalities detained at th BJMP facility where Vargas was previously and presently assigned.
