A SPECIAL Weapons and Tactics (SWAT) team leader on Sunday was killed in a buy-bust operation in Bgy. Concepcion, Iloilo City.

Iloilo City Police Office Director Col. Joeresty Coronica identified the victim as 42-year-old Staff Sgt. Michael Malan.

According to Coronica, Malan, a resident of Bgy. Calaparan, Arevalo district, has been with the police force for 15 years.

The buy-bust operation, led by the City Drug Enforcement Unit (CDEU) and joined by the regional police Drug Enforcement Unit, and the Iloilo City Police Station 1, was conducted around 11:30 a.m. Sunday.

An investigation showed one of the suspects ran to his house after sensing that he was dealing with a poseur buyer and later on fired at the operatives.

The SWAT team rushed to the scene as operating cops requested for augmentation.

Malan who was wearing a bullet-proof vest, was entering the room when a shot fired by the suspect hit him on the left side of his chest, the bullet piercing through his left arm. He was rushed to the hospital, where he was declared dead on arrival.

The suspects, who were considered “high-value” individuals, decided to surrender after more than two hours. They were identified only through their aliases “Bong-Bong,” “Ivan,” and “Kate.”

Seized during the operation were more than a kilo of shabu worth P7.8 million, the P20,000 buy-bust money, and one 9mm Taurus handgun.

Coronica and Police Regional Office 6 Director Brig. Gen. Sidney Villaflor expressed grief over the death of Malan.

According to Villaflor, a noble life was once again lost in their battle against illegal drugs.

“A noble life is once again lost in our battle against illegal drugs. May Sgt Malan’s death rekindle the flames in our heart to do our part as citizens of Western Visayas to end the drug menace in our community,” said Villaflor.

“The police cannot do it alone, we need the full support of other government agencies which are also clearly mandated to perform law enforcement functions, and also the community members to attain a drug-free Western Visayas,” he added as he led the entire Western Visayas police force in mourning the death of the SWAT operative.

Villaflor said the Iloilo City operation came in the heels of the arrest of six “high-value targets” in the region who yielded over P8 million of the “poor man’s cocaine” last week. By Jane Eleda and Alfred Dalizon