GENERAL SANTOS CITY – A target-listed drug personality was killed while two others were arrested in separate operations over the weekend in a remote village in Malungon town, Sarangani Province.
Chief Supt. Eliseo Tam Rasco, regional director of the Police Regional Office (PRO)-12, identified the slain suspect as Jonel Sinaya Tialang, who was allegedly linked to suppliers and cultivators of marijuana in upland plantations in the area.
Citing a report from the Sarangani Police Provincial Office, Rasco said the suspect was killed after resisting arrest during a search operation at around 4:30 a.m. at his house in Barangay Malabod, Malungon.
The raid was joined by elements from the Philippine Drug Enforcement Agency (PDEA)-Region 12.
Rasco said that during the search, Tialang attempted to fire a 12-gauge shotgun at the operatives.
“Team members shot the suspect before he could squeeze the trigger of his firearm to prevent possible harm on their side,” he told reporters in Monday.
He said Tialang was brought to a hospital in Malungon but was declared dead on arrival by attending doctors.
Recovered from the slain suspect were a 12-gauge shotgun loaded with three live bullets, six live bullets, a paper roll, backpack and shoulder bag containing about 5,000 grams of suspected dried marijuana leaves worth around PHP600,000.
Meanwhile, PDEA-12 acting head Naravy Duquiatan said two other suspects were arrested in separate search operations in the area.
She said suspect Jonathan Tialang was nabbed after yielding five grams of dried marijuana leaves worth around PHP600 during a raid at his house at around 2:43 a.m.
Another suspect, Quino Sinaya, was arrested following a search at his house at around 3:45 a. m. that yielded seven grams of dried marijuana leaves valued at PHP840 and a homemade shotgun loaded with five bullets.
Duquiatan said the two suspects were on the target list of the Sarangani and PDEA-12. (/PNA)
