GENERAL SANTOS CITY — For trading shots with police during an anti-drug operation in Polomolok, South Cotabato, two drug personalities were killed during a shootout on Wednesday, police said.
Chief Inspector Aldrin Gonzales, speaking for the Philippine National Police – Region 12 (PNP-12), said 16 other suspected drug peddlers were arrested during simultaneous “One Time Big Time” anti-drug operations in five villages of Polomolok.
“They fired at our law enforcers who returned fire, critically wounding the two suspects,” Gonzales said of the two slain suspects who were rushed to the hospital but were pronounced dead on arrival.
Gonzales identified the fatalities as Ruben Porsuelo and Bobong Jamelo, residents of Barangay Magsaysay, Polomolok town.
Gonzales said joint PNP-12, South Cotabato provincial police, local drug enforcement units, and elements from the Army’s 27th Infantry Battalion served 34 search warrants in the villages of Poblacion, Rubber, Lumakil, Magsaysay and Silway 8, all in Polomolok, during the operation.
He said the raid was coordinated with village and town officials. At least seven firearms and grenades, camouflaged uniforms, shabu substance, and other drug paraphernalia were recovered from the arrested suspects.
Arrested were Jojo Jamero, Haide Sanchez, Juvy Olano, Sarikin Motalib, Basit Gulam, Michael Cahumnas, Baher Mudzol, Uti Uttu, Abdulraham Diawe, Eddie Norcos, Ryan Bisaya, Hussein Cabanith, Ramond Macalina Sr., Minda Partoza, Abdurashid Marangit and a minor. (Edwin Fernandez/PNA/Photo by PNP-12)
