TACURONG CITY–Police killed a former village councilman and his companion, who are both wanted for illegal drug peddling, after they resisted arrest during an anti-drug operation in Lambayong, Sultan Kudarat province on Sunday.
The death of the two drug suspects, considered as police high value targets, brought to 87 the total number of drug personalities killed during police law enforcement operations in Region 12 since January.
Chief Supt. Marcelo Morales, Police Regional Office 12 director, said on Monday that the operation led to the recovery of eight huge sachets of shabu, a .45-caliber pistol, a .38-caliber revolver, and PHP245,900 cash from the slain suspects.
Agents from the Regional Police Drug Enforcement Unit (RPDU-12) and the Sultan Kudarat police were to serve separate search warrants on Benie Dakua Kamal, a former village councilman of Barangay Sadsalan, Lambayong, and his pal, known only as “Patak”, around 2 a.m. Sunday when the shootout erupted.
The suspects, who were neighbors, allegedly opened fire on the approaching lawmen. A brief firefight ensued, which led to the critical wounding of the two suspects.
The raiding team rushed the injured suspects to a hospital at the Lambayong town proper but both were declared dead upon arrival, Morales said. (PNA)
