• GILBERT P. BAYORAN
An alleged local drug group leader and two other suspects were killed in a gunbattle with law enforcers at Barangay Jonob-Jonob in Escalante City, Negros Occidental on Wednesday, April 15.
The joint operation of the Philippine Drug Enforcement Agency (PDEA) with the local police and intelligence operatives, assisted by the Philippine Army’s 79th Infantry Battalion, also led to the recovery of an M16 assault rifle with a magazine containing 23 ammunition, two caliber .45 pistols, and an estimated P80,000 worth of illegal drugs.
Agent Jan Keith Capili, spokesperson of PDEA-Negros Island Region, in radio interview said one of the suspects has arrest warrants for violation of the Comprehensive Dangerous Drugs Act of 2002 and illegal possession of firearms.
Capili said the encounter ensued after the suspects fired at the approaching law enforcers, which led to the killing of three drug suspects, and the recovery of three high-powered firearms and illegal drugs.
On the same day, the police also seized P1.8 million worth of illegal drugs in two separate buy-bust operations in Barangays 2 and Tangub in Bacolod City.
The operations led to the arrest of three suspects, according to the Police Regional Office-Negros Island Region.
In Negros Oriental, a 34-year-old suspect was arrested during the implementation of a search warrant at Sitio Lower Moog in Barangay Planas, Guihulngan City on Thursday, April 16.
Operatives recovered a caliber .45 pistol with two magazines containing 11 ammunition.
The suspect was a subject of complaints for illegal discharge of firearms, causing fear among the residents. | GB
