PIKIT, North Cotabato — Two drug suspects were killed after they exchanged shots with police personnel conducting anti-drug operations in Barangay Batulawan here before dawn on Saturday, police said Sunday.
Three others were arrested during an anti-drug raid in two houses in the village, said provincial police spokesman Supt. Bernard Tayong in an interview.
Combined forces of the Regional Police Drug Enforcement Unit, backed by soldiers, were about to serve four search warrants against drug personalities for violation of Republic Act 9165 or the Comprehensive Drugs Act of 2002 and illegal possession of firearms when the shootout ensued.
Tayong said that the raiding team was approaching one of the four houses in Barangay Batulawan when five men were seen fleeing as they fired at the lawmen using handguns.
An ensuing chase led to a running gun battle until two suspects fell wounded while three others surrendered.
The two injured gunmen were rushed to a hospital at the poblacion area here but were pronounced dead on arrival.
The slain drug suspects were identified as Andamen Sapalon, 40, and his brother Pisko Kanda Sapalon, 30, both residents of the village.
Collared were Baina Taudin, Samer Samad and Johaina Labarios.
Tayong said Sapalon was leader of a local drug group engaged in peddling shabu, an illegal substance.
The raiding team recovered guns and shabu items from the suspects.
Tayong said the suspects fired first against the law enforcers. (PNA)
