A Bureau of Jail Management and Penology (BJMP) Jail officer and allegedly the leader of a drug group syndicate was killed in a drug bust operation by Calamba police on Wednesday morning.
Based on the report to Calabarzon Regional Director Brig. General Vicente Danao Jr., the suspect was identified as Jail Officer 3 Joseph Rey Villegas, 49, a resident of No.52 Calamba-Tagaytay Road, Barangay Bunggo, Calamba City.
Elements of the Regional Intelligence Division, Regional Special Operations Unit and Calamba City Police Station conducted the operation against Villegas through a buy bust just near the latter’s residence at Barangay Bunggo at 10:00 am.
Investigation said that he immediately pulled out his gun and fired at the police which ended up in an encounter and later gun downed.
Investigators learned that Villegas was an active member of the Bureau of Jail Management and Penology (BJMP) of San Pablo City and also the leader of his own criminal gangs called the Villegas drug group supplying shabu in District 2 of Laguna province.
The suspect is also on the list of President Rodrigo Duterte’s High Value Individual (HVI) at the provincial level.
Recovered from the suspect were 50 grams of suspected shabu worth approximately P380,000, a caliber .9mm Taurus with magazines, assorted ammunition and cartridges.