DAVAO CITY, Philippines – A suspected shabu dealer was shot and killed by anti-narcotics agents during a botched entrapment operation in Koronadal City on Friday night, June 14, in Barangay Zone 4 when the suspect resisted arrest.
The Philippine Drug Enforcement Agency (PDEA) Region 12, under the direction of Aileen Lovitos, conducted the operation targeting 45-year-old Jeffrey Sobusa Pudadera. During the sting, Pudadera allegedly pulled out a firearm and opened fire upon realizing he was dealing with undercover agents. In response, the PDEA agents neutralized him.
Pudadera, a resident of Navarro Subdivision in Barangay General Paulino Santos, had been operating under the guise of a tricycle driver to cover his illegal drug activities. He had successfully evaded multiple previous operations aimed at apprehending him by various law enforcement units over the past few months.
PDEA-12 agents recovered from Pudadera’s possession P105,000 worth of shabu and a Taurus 9mm pistol, bearing the serial number TVL 09773.
Local officials who assisted in planning the operation expressed that the agents had no choice but to return fire when Pudadera shot at them, leading to a brief but fatal exchange.
Director Lovitos reiterated that the PDEA’s primary objective was a peaceful resolution, but the situation escalated rapidly due to Pudadera’s violent response. “Our agents were forced to act in self-defense when Pudadera fired upon them,” she said. The incident underscores the continued challenges faced by law enforcement in combatting the illegal drug trade in the region, where suspects often go to great lengths to avoid capture
