A STRING of anti-criminality operations in Southern Mindanao this week resulted in the killing of two armed suspects following gunbattles with officers and the arrest of 16 others involved in various crimes in the region, Police Regional Office (PRO) 11 Director Brigadier General Benjamin H. Silo Jr. told the Journal Group on Saturday.

In a report to Philippine National Police (PNP) Chief General Rodolfo S. Azurin Jr., the official said that responding policemen in Davao City were forced to defend themselves against the two suspects after both opened fire at them while about to be accosted.

One of the slain suspects died in a clash with members of the Davao City Police Station (PS) 15 at 3:30 a.m. Wednesday.

An investigation showed that the local police station received a phone call from a 29-year-old store owner in Purok 2, Barangay 74-A in Matina district, that two men were trying to rob her.

It turned out that one of the suspects forcibly entered the store while his cohort acted as a “lookout.” Officers led by Captain Alfree Jay Caminada rushed to the site and confronted the suspects, who immediately fled on foot.

However, while about to be cornered, one of the suspects pulled out a gun and fired shots at the officers prompting one operative to retaliate.

The suspect was hit and taken to the Southern Philippines Medical Center, where an attending physician declared him dead upon arrival.

The suspect was found to be a resident of Bgy. Telaje in Tandag, Surigao del Sur, yielded a caliber .38 revolver with three live ammunition and two spent cartridges as well as a bag which was found containing the store owner’s laptop computer, three mobile phones, and several jewelry items and a black coin purse which was found containing some P3,200 worth of shabu.

The 2nd suspect was killed in a shootout with members of the Sta. Ana PS 1 around 9:25 a.m. Wednesday.

The encounter erupted after officers responded to a report that a “suspicious-looking” man was seen armed with a gun in Sitio Sta. Cruz in Bgy. Leon Garcia.

While about to be apprehended, the suspect reportedly shot at the lawmen triggering the gunfight.

The suspect who yielded a cal. .38 revolver with three spent casings and a live bullet, and a pouch containing around P12,000 worth of shabu died while being taken to the hospital.

Silo said that a record check showed that the slain suspect was a known drug and theft suspect in his neighborhood.

The two other suspects arrested were both tagged as top drug targets in Davao City. The two were arrested during a sting in Aurellano Street in Bgy. 9-A last Monday evening. They yielded a small amount of shabu and the buy-bust money.

The 3rd suspect, the subject of a non-bailable warrant of arrest for violation of the anti-trafficking in person act, was arrested in Bgy. Mankilam in Tagum City, Davao del Norte on Tuesday.

Two former New People’s Army (NPA) members in Davao Oriental were arrested on the strength of a non-bailable serious illegal detention case.

Another suspect was arrested in Samal District in Davao del Norte based on a warrant for lascivious conduct.

The 7th suspect yielded nearly P93,000 worth of shabu during a buy-bust operation in Bgy. 28-C in Davao City.

One suspect was arrested for possession of more than P5,000 worth of shabu in Banaybanay, Davao Oriental, last Wednesday.

The 9th suspect and his three accomplices were arrested inside a drug den in Bgy. Dawis in Digos City in Davao del Sur was smashed by the local police on Wednesday.

Recovered during the raid were more than P41,000 worth of shabu and marijuana and various drug paraphernalia.

The 13th suspect, a man wanted for four counts of rape, was arrested in Bgy. Acacia Proper in Davao City on Wednesday.

Another wanted suspect was arrested in Bgy. Kingking in Pantukan, Davao de Oro on the basis of a non-bailable rape case.

The 15th suspect, also a former NPA member, was arrested for attempted murder in Bgy. Pañalum in Paquibato District in Davao City on Wednesday, while the 16th suspect was collared for rape by sexual assault in Bgy. Balagunan in Sto. Tomas, Davao del Norte.