2 killed, P1.6B shabu seized in Cavite drug busts
ANOTHER “intelligence-driven” operation jointly conducted by agents of the Philippine Drug Enforcement Agency and the Philippine National Police in Bacoor and Imus Cities in Cavite on Thursday night led to the killing of two “high-value targets” and the seizure of around 229 kilograms of shabu worth nearly P1.6 billion, PNP chief Gen. Guillermo Lorenzo Eleazar said.
Two of the suspects, Basher Pangcoga Bangon, a 59-year -old native of Cagayan de Oro City, and Danilo Tampogaw Untavar, 51, of Datu Ismael, Dasmariñas City, Cavite were killed in a gunfight with officers during a buy-bust operation at Blk. 6, L15, Springville Executive 1 Subdivision in Molino 3, Bacoor City at 9:30 p.m. on Thursday.
Members of the PDEA headed by Director General Wilkins Villanueva, the PNP Drug Enforcement Group headed by Brig. Gen. Remus Medina, the National Capital Region Police Office under Maj. Gen. Vicente Danao Jr., the Police Regional Office 4-A headed by Brig. Gen. Eliseo DC Cruz, and the PNP Special Action Force under Maj. Gen. Felipe Natividad were involved in the operation, Eleazar said.
Recovered were 181 kilograms of the “poor man’s cocaine” worth P1.25 billion, the buy-bust money, and firearms used by the suspects in trading shots with officers.
Medina described Bangon as a top-level drug personality serving as a direct contact of a major Chinese drug syndicate operating in the country, specifically in Visayas and Mindanao regions.
A follow-up operation in Imus City, Cavite led to the arrest of couple Aldwin Micoleta, 47; and Lani Brabante Micoleta,45.
Seized from the suspects during the sting at Blk. 6, Lot 2, Topacio St., Phase 8, Bgy. Magdalo, Bahayang Pag-asa in Imus City at 9:15 p.m. on Thursday were an estimated 48 kilograms of shabu worth P331.2 million.
Eleazar said that two mobile phone and a Metrobank passbook belonging to the suspects are now being subjected to a forensic and bank examination to determine the other contacts as well as the previous drug transactions.
Officers from the Armed Forces of the Philippine, the National Intelligence Coordinating Agency and the Bureau of Customs were also involved in the two major anti-narcotics operations, said the PNP chief.
Villanueva said that the two arrested suspects are cohorts of Bangon, who acts as the syndicate’s distributors of shabu in Metro Manila, and Calabarzon regions.
The official said they are investigating if the four suspects are connected to the activities of a gang of Chinese nationals they neutralized in separate operations in Zambales and Bataan provinces last Tuesday.
Four of the Chinese nationals were killed in a shootout with government agents while three were arrested. By Alfred Dalizon and Dennis Abrina
