Mindanao HVT drug ‘pusher’ killed, P27M shabu seized
A PHILIPPINE National Police Drug Enforcement Group-led (PNP-DEG) anti-narcotics operation in Zamboanga City late evening Friday resulted in the killing of one of Mindanao’s top drug traffickers – a high-value target (HVT) and the seizure of four kilograms of shabu worth P27 million, a report to PNP chief General Dionardo B. Carlos said.
PNP-DEG director Brig. Gen. Randy Q. Peralta said that suspect Puriti Taraji alias “Bossing”, a resident of Bgy. Laum in Maimbung, Sulu drew a concealed firearm and fired at officers from the DEG Special Operations Unit 9 (SOU 9) who were about to arrest him in Sitio Caragasan in Bgy. Maasin, Zamboanga City 10:00 p.m. Friday.
One of the SOU 9 officers identified as Patrolman Ronevil Batal was shot by the suspect although he has been declared in stable condition in a local hospital, said the official.
“My men had no recourse but to return fire in self-defense. As a result, the suspect was killed on the spot,” said Brig. Gen. Peralta, who flew to Zamboanga City on Saturday morning to meet the officers and men of the SOU 9 and pin a medal and give some assistance to the wounded Pat. Batal.
Recovered from the possession of the slain suspect were a chamber-loaded caliber 9mm semi-automatic pistol with several live ammunition, four plastic packets containing around 4 kg of the so-called “poor man’s cocaine” (shabu), and the buy-bust money topped by a marked P1,000 bill.
All the recovered pieces of evidence were placed under the custody of the Regional Forensic Unit 9.
Brig. Gen. Peralta said that the slain suspect has been under their radar this year amid intelligence reports that he was a big-time drug transporter in Mindanao.
“We have received information that he is connected with a Malaysian drug group operating in Tawi-Tawi, Jolo, Basilan, and other parts of Western and Northern Mindanao,” he said.
Gen. Carlos congratulated the PNP-DEG for their latest major anti-narcotics accomplishment in the country amid their ongoing war on drugs and particularly paid tribute to the policeman who was wounded in the gunfight with the slain suspect.
Members of the local Criminal Investigation and Detection Group, the Regional Intelligence Unit, the Regional Mobile Force Battalion, the Zamboanga City Police Station, the Marine Battalion Landing Team, and the Area Police Command-Western Mindanao supported the DEG-SOU 9 in the conduct of the operation.
