A STRING of anti-narcotics operations in Southern Mindanao this week resulted in the killing of an armed “high-value target” (HVT) following a shootout in Davao City and the arrest of ten others, Police Regional Office 11 (PRO11) Director Brigadier General Benjamin H. Silo Jr. on Saturday said.

More than P100,000 worth of shabu, assorted drug paraphernalia, and illegal guns were recovered from the suspects, said the PRO11 director in a report to Philippine National Police (PNP) Chief Gen. Rodolfo S. Azurin Jr.

Silo said that one of the suspects was killed in a gunfight with undercover officers from the Davao City Police Station 2 past 4:00 p.m. last Wednesday in Purok 16, Barangay 5-A in Davao City.

He said that a team of undercover officers from the San Pedro Station Drug Enforcement Team led by Major Romeo Mapanao conducted the sting targeting the HVT, who has been monitored to be a “notorious” drug trafficker in the city.

During the entrapment operation, a poseur managed to buy P5,000 worth of shabu from the suspect. However, the accused reportedly sensed the ongoing sting when the undercover officer handed him the buy-bust money topped by a marked P1,000 bill. He immediately drew a concealed handgun and fired at the lawman but missed.

Back-up operatives returned fire and hit the suspect, who was pronounced dead upon arrival by an attending physician at the Southern Philippines Medical Center.

Recovered from the possession of the slain suspect were an estimated P48,000 worth of shabu, the marked money, and a caliber .38 revolver with a spent cartridge and four live ammunition.

Silo said that another sting in Maragusan, Davao de Oro, around 10:30 p.m. last Tuesday resulted in the arrest of a “high-value individual” (HVI) and five others.

He said that members of the Maragusan Municipal Police Station and the PRO11 Regional Mobile Force Battalion (RMFB) conducted the operation in Purok Pag-asa in Bgy. Mauswagon led to the arrest of a known drug recidivist who yielded drugs, a marked P500 bill, four 9mm live ammunition, and some drug paraphernalia.

A follow-up operation led to the arrest of the suspect inside the 3K’s Tourist Inn located in Purok Marang in the same barangay. The suspect and four others were reportedly caught in the act of having a shabu sniffing session.

Recovered during the operation were five plastic sachets of shabu worth P44,000, assorted drug paraphernalia, cal. .22 Magnum revolver with several live ammunition, and P15,160 in different denominations.

Silo said that a 7th suspect, tagged as the 9th most wanted person (MWP) for drugs in Region 11, was arrested in a buy-bust operation in Purok Lumbia 1 in Bgy. Poblacion, Malalag, Davao del Sur around 2:50 p.m. Tuesday.

Recovered were an estimated P4,500 worth of shabu and a marked P1,000 bill.

The 8th suspect, described as the 5th most wanted person (MWP) for drugs in Southern Mindanao, was arrested on Tuesday inside her house in San Isidro, Davao Oriental.

The PRO11 director said that local policemen raided the suspect’s house on the strength of a search warrant issued by Judge Emilio Dayanghirang III. Recovered inside the suspect’s residence were 12 plastic sachets of shabu valued at P14,000.

The two other suspects were arrested in a sting near the Buhangin Alliance Church in Buhangin, Davao City, past 9:00 p.m. Monday.

Recovered from the suspects’ possession were an estimated P560,000 worth of shabu and the buy-bust money. A motorcycle used by the duo to transport the drugs was also impounded by the local police.

Silo said that all suspects are now facing charges for violation of Republic Act 9165 or the Comprehensive Dangerous Drugs Act of 2002. A separate case for violation of RA 10591 or the Comprehensive Firearms and Ammunition Regulations Act of 2013 will also be filed against those who yielded illegal guns and bullets, he added.