A STRING of anti-criminality operations in Southern Mindanao this week resulted in the killing of an armed drug personality-robbery suspect in an encounter, the arrest of eight others and the confiscation of over P1.3 million of shabu across the region, Police Regional Office 11 (PRO 11) Director Brigadier General Benjamin H. Silo Jr. said on Saturday.

In a report to Philippine National Police (PNP) chief, Gen. Rodolfo S. Azurin Jr., the PRO 11 director said that the slain suspect was killed in a gunbattle with officers in Purok Pinya, Barangay Wines in Baguio District, Davao City around 2:45 p.m. last Tuesday.

Silo said that prior to the firefight, a complainant caught the suspect in the act of stealing two of his piglets and placing the animals in a sack. After being caught, the suspect reportedly pulled out a concealed firearm and told the complainant not to make any noise, or he will shoot him.

The man later fled on board a red motorcycle, where he was eventually accosted by officers who were alerted of the robbery. The lawmen led by Major Ricky Obenza tried to accost the suspect but were reportedly fired upon by the latter, prompting them to retaliate.

The suspect was hit twice in the chest and taken to a local hospital, where an attending physician declared him dead upon arrival.

Recovered were one caliber .38 revolver with five live ammunition and a spent casing, a motorcycle, the two stolen piglets, and five plastic sachets containing around 15 grams of dried marijuana leaves worth P1,800.

Silo said that the suspect was found to be a buyer and seller of durian fruit in the city.

The PRO11 director said that the other suspects were arrested in separate buy-bust operations in the region.

One of them, tagged as the 2nd most wanted drug personality in Buliok District, Davao City yielded some 30 grams of shabu valued at P205,428 during a sting conducted in a local basketball court around 1:50 a.m. Friday.

Local policemen led by Major Nelson Violan arrested the suspect, who turned out to be a tricycle driver.

The 2nd suspect was found in possession of an estimated 15 grams of the so-called “poor man’s cocaine” worth P102,000 during an entrapment operation in Mazzini Street in Navona Homes in Bgy. Matina Pangi in Davao City 3:50 p.m. Wednesday.

Officers led by Maj. Noel Villahermosa arrested the 40-year-old suspect.

The 3rd, along with four of her accomplices, were arrested in a buy-bust operation in a known drug den in Purok Hanapbuhay in Punta Biao in Bgy. Cogon, Digos City in Davao del Sur past 4 p.m. Wednesday.

Silo said that recovered during the sting conducted by officers led by Lieutenant Colonel Hamlet Lerios and Lt. Diosdado Niones were an estimated 18 grams of shabu valued at P122,000, the marked money and various drug paraphernalia.

Arrested during the operation, apart from the 25-year-old target, were three cohorts.

The 8th suspect, on the other hand, yielded an estimated 55 grams of shabu worth P374,000 during a buy-bust operation in Purok Kalayaan in Bgy. Central Mati City in Davao Oriental around 5:40 p.m. last Tuesday.

All arrested suspects are now facing criminal charges for the sale and possession and sale of prohibited drugs under Republic Act 9165 or the Comprehensive Dangerous Drugs Act of 2002, Silo said.