SIMULTANEOUS conduct of so-called “One-Time, Big-Time” anti-criminality operations in Southern Mindanao this week resulted in the killing of a top drug dealer in the region during a buy-bust operation which ended up in a shootout and the arrest of 18 other crime targets, Police Regional Office 11 (PRO 11) Director Brigadier General Benjamin H. Silo Jr. said on Saturday.

An estimated P1.8 million worth of shabu was also recovered from the arrested drug suspects, the official said.

In a report to Philippine National Police (PNP) Chief General Rodolfo S. Azurin Jr., the PRO 11 director said that the suspect, described as the 6th “most wanted person” (MWP) for drugs in Southern Mindanao, was killed in a firefight with undercover officers in Davao City shortly before 6:00 a.m. Thursday.

Recovered from the possession of the slain suspect during the buy-bust operation in Sitio Sta. Cruz, Barangay Leon Garcia were seven grams of shabu valued at P44,336, the marked money, and a loaded caliber .38 revolver.

The suspect reportedly sensed the ongoing entrapment operation and fired a shot at the poseur but missed prompting the backup operative to retaliate in self-defense. The suspect died while being taken to the Southern Philippine Medical Center (SPMC).

Silo said that the rest of the suspects were arrested in separate anti-narcotics operations in the region.

One of them, identified with the alias “Dodong Scarface” yielded seven grams of shabu worth P47,600 during a sting in Purok 8, Bgy. Nueva Visayas in Mawab, Davao de Oro past 7:00 p.m. Friday.

The 2nd suspect, tagged as the no. 1 most wanted drug dealer in Davao City, was arrested in a buy-bust operation along Rizal Extension in Bgy. 38-D around 3:00 p.m. Friday.

The suspect was found in possession of some 30 grams of the so-called “poor man’s cocaine” worth P480,000 and the buy-bust money.

Another identified as “Pablito,” one of the most wanted drug personalities in the region, yielded four grams of shabu worth P64,000 and a home-made caliber .38 revolver during a buy-bust operation in Purok 6, Bgy. Quirino in Padada, Davao del Sur 11:20 p.m. Friday.

The 3rd suspect was arrested along with four accomplices during an anti-narcotics operation in Sitio Power, Purok Tugas in Bgy. Tres de Mayo in Digos City in Davao del Sur on Thursday.

Silo said that the operation resulted in the dismantling of a “secret” drug den being operated by the suspect, who is known as a “high-value target” (HVT) in Region 11, and the recovery of nearly six grams of shabu worth more than P36,000 and various drug paraphernalia.

The eight, tagged as the 3rd most wanted drug personality in Davao City, was arrested in a sting in Doña Asuncion in Bgy. Pampanga which resulted in the recovery of over ten grams of shabu with a market value of more than P160,000.

The 9th suspect was arrested along with her three associates, also considered as HVTs, during another sting inside the ABC Boarding House located along Pioneer Avenue in Bgy. Magugpo South in Tagum City which resulted in the confiscation of an estimated 50 grams of shabu worth P340,000 and the buy-bust money.

The 13th suspect yielded an estimated 210 grams of shabu valued at P1.428 million during a sting in Bgy. Tigatto in Davao City past 1:00 a.m. Thursday.

The 14th suspect was found in possession of some 90 grams of the same drug worth P612,000 during a buy-bust operation along Purok 4-A in Isla Verde Boulevard in Davao City shortly before midnight Wednesday.

The 15th HVT suspect, a barangay councilor and an Indigenous People (IP) representative in Davao Oriental, on the other hand, was arrested in a buy-bust operation last Thursday. Recovered were some P3,000 worth of shabu.

The 16th suspect yielded some P52,000 worth of shabu during a sting in Bgy. New Valencia in Tugbok District in Davao City.

The 17th suspect, an HVT in Davao City, yielded an estimated P110,000 worth of shabu during a buy-bust operation in Bgy. Toril Proper in Toril District.

Another drug suspect, the 6th most wanted drug personality in the region, yielded some P2,000 worth of shabu during a sting in Bgy. San Jose in Santo Tomas, Davao del Norte.

All arrested suspects are now facing charges for the sale and possession of prohibited drugs under the Republic Act (RA) 9165 or the Comprehensive Dangerous Drugs Act of 2002.

Silo said that two others, one described as the chairman of Bgy. Ompao in Tarragona, Davao Oriental, and his pal were arrested in an anti-illegal weapons raid on Friday.

He said that the village chief’s residence was raided by his men on the strength of a search warrant for a violation of RA 10591 or the Comprehensive Firearms and Ammunition Regulations Act of 2013 issued by Judge Semiramis Bituin Castron of the Mati City RTC (Regional Trial Court) last Thursday.

Recovered during the raid were three units of 12-gauge shotguns, an improvised M-79 grenade launcher with a 40mm grenade, a sling bag containing six live 40mm grenades, a bag containing two Glock magazines with 32 bullets, and a bag with a long shotgun magazine containing six ammunition and two live M-14 bullets.

Another suspect was also arrested in another anti-gun raid on Friday in Purok Crossing, Bgy. Tagabakid in Mati City. Judge Castro authorized the raid, which led to the confiscation of a cal. .45 pistol with four magazines containing 30 live ammunition.