A policeman and a suspected drug pusher were killed Sunday when they traded shots during an anti-drug operation in Caloocan City.

Senior Supt. Jude Santos, Caloocan City police chief, said Police Officer 3 Lauro dela Cruz, assigned at the Station Anti-Illegal Drugs (SAID) of the Caloocan City police, died due to a gunshot wound while undergoing treatment at the Jose Rodriguez Hospital in Barangay Tala.

His assailant, suspected pusher Rolando Estrella, resident of St. Joseph Avenue, Barangay Tala, sustained gunshot wounds in the body and died on the spot.

Santos said a team from the anti-narcotics unit of the city police was conducting operations in Barangay Tala when they spotted Estrella in the area.

Thinking that Estrella was not armed, the policeman tried to accost the suspect but was shot instead in the chest. Although badly wounded, the policeman was able to draw his handgun and returned fire, killing Estrella on the spot.