By NITZ ARANCON Correspondent  POLICE shot and killed a suspected drug pusher in one of the city’s barangays at a time when National Police Director General Ronald “Bato” dela Rosa was gracing the 115th year of the uniformed service here yesterday. City police director Senior Supt. Ronnie Francis Cariaga said the slain suspect, 32-year old Rey Casipong a.k.a. Mantoy, of Zone 1, Barangay Mambuaya was shot after he fired a shot at Chief Insp. Dennis Ebsolo during a buy-and-bust operation in the upland village. A bullet-proof vest saved Ebsolo from the bullet that hit him on torso, Cariaga said. Cariaga said Casipong was armed with two caliber .38 revolvers, and had six sachets of suspected shabu, and marked money. The alleged shootout came after police arrested an ex-soldier and three others during anti-illegal drugs operations in Macasandig and Nazareth on Wednesday and Thursday. Chief Insp. Basman Macarangal Jr., chief of the Macasandig police, said first arrested Marlon Ello, 25, at 9th-20th Sts., Nazareth on Wednesday afternoon. Macarangal said information given by Ello resulted in the arrest of couple Dennis Celdran, 53, and his partner Jennifer Orias, 40, in their apartment at 9th-20th Sts. in Nazareth on Thursday afternoon. The same afternoon, police also arrested former Pfc. Wilson Ignacio a.k.a. Astron, 34, at St. Ignatius compound in Barangay  Macasandig as a result of a buy-and-bust operation. Ignacio allegedly yielded suspected shabu, marked money, M14 armalite rifle bullet, and military and police uniforms. Macarangal said the couple, Celdran and Orias, were caught allegedly using shabu in their apartment. “Wala na sila (Dennis and Jennifer) nakaikyas, amo silang gidakop kay amo man nga nasapon sa akto nga nag-session sila,” said Macarangal. He said the couple’s arrest came after Ello allegedly divulged that the two, his landlords, were alleged drug users . All four suspects were detained at the Macasandig police station, and charges were being prepared against them.