TWO armed drug dealers were killed in shootouts while three “high-value targets” (HVTs) were arrested in a string of police anti-narcotics operations in Southern Mindanao last week, Police Regional Office 11 (PRO11) Director Brigadier General Benjamin H. Silo Jr. said on Monday.

In a report to Philippine National Police (PNP) Chief Gen. Rodolfo S. Azurin Jr., the official said that one of the suspects died following a gunfight with undercover officers in Purok San Miguel in Barangay Centro San Juan in Agdao, Davao City around 10:25 p.m. Saturday.

The slain suspect yielded a caliber .38 revolver with three live ammunition and a spent casing, and three plastic sachets of shabu worth P8,600.

The official said that before the shootout, local policemen were informed about the presence of the suspect, who was also tagged as a known “Akyat-Bahay” gang member in the area.

An officer was about to check the suspect when he was reportedly fired upon by the latter prompting him to retaliate. The suspect died while being taken to the Southern Philippines Medical Center (SPMC).

A record check showed that the suspect was arrested for a drug-related offense on August 13, 2019, but was released from jail after he availed of the plea bargaining agreement. He, however, was monitored to have engaged in thievery in the city shortly after his release.

The PRO11 director said that the 2nd suspect, identified as alias “Loloy”, tagged as the 5th most wanted drug trafficker in Davao City, was killed in a firefight with undercover officers in Zone 2, Kilometer 13 in Panacan, Davao City, around 8:25 p.m. Friday.

He said that officers from the Davao City Police Station 4 Drug Enforcement Team led by Lt. Ryan Kenneth Ramones were forced to return fire at the suspect when he began shooting at them after he sensed the ongoing entrapment operation.

The suspect was declared dead upon arrival at the SPMC by an attending physician. Recovered from his possession were nearly six grams of shabu and an estimated 25 grams of dried marijuana leaves, all valued at over P40,000, a loaded caliber .38 revolver with two spent cartridges and four live ammunition, and the P3,500 marked money.

Silo said that the other three suspects were arrested in separate anti-narcotics operations.

One of the three, described as the 4th most wanted drug dealer in Davao City, yielded nearly P75,000 worth of the so-called “poor man’s cocaine”, several drug paraphernalia, four live 9mm ammunition, and one M-203 ammunition when officers raided his residence in Purok 1, Sitio Dunggas in Bgy. Tambo, Babak District in the Island Garden City of Samal.

Local policemen raided the suspect’s house on the strength of a warrant for illegal possession of firearms, explosives, and drugs issued by Judge Gemma Betonio of the Panabo City Regional Trial Court (RTC) Branch 11.

The 2nd HVT suspect yielded 25 grams of shabu worth P170,000 and two firearms during a Friday raid, said Silo.

The PRO11 director said that members of the Pantukan Municipal Police Station in Davao de Oro led by Lt. Col. Jess de la Cruz and the PNP Criminal Investigation and Detection Group (PNP-CIDG) searched the suspect’s abode in Purok Nagka in Canipa Bgy. Matiao in Pantukan municipality based on a warrant for illegal possession of firearms issued by Judge Celestial Aranda-Gonzales of the Mabini RTC Br. 57 in Davao de Oro.

Officers placed the suspect under arrest when their search led to the recovery of a cal. .45 pistol with three magazines containing 26 live ammunition, one cal. .22 revolver, 29 .22 bullets, and three holsters, as well as 25 grams of shabu valued at P170,000, a digital weighing scale, an improvised glass tooter, one glass tube, and aluminum foil tooters.

The 3rd suspect, tagged as the no. 1 drug personality in Baliok, Davao City, was arrested on Thursday by local policemen under Maj. Nelson Violan Jr.

The 30-year-old local government employee from Purok 4, Castro Village in Bago Aplaya, Davao City, yielded an estimated P58,000 worth of shabu and around P2,200 worth of dried marijuana leaves, a cal. .38 revolver with four live ammunition, and a marked P500 bill.

Silo said that the arrested suspects are now facing charges for violation of the Republic Act (RA) 9165 Comprehensive Dangerous Drugs Act of 2002, and RA 10591, or the Comprehensive Firearms and Ammunition Regulations Act of 2013.

AUTHOR PROFILE

Alfred P. Dalizon