A HIGH-VALUE target was killed in a shootout with police operatives during a drug bust in E.B. Magalona, Barangay 2, Negros Occidental, Thursday night, November 22.

Police identified the fatality as Noel "Ampatuan" Bolivar, 38, of Barangay Tabigue.

He was an alleged member of the Divinagracia drug group based in Silay City.

Joint operatives of the Provincial Drug Enforcement Unit (PDEU) and E.B. Magalona Municipal Police Station conducted the operation against Bolivar at 6:20 p.m.

Armed with a .45 caliber pistol, the suspect allegedly resisted arrest and engaged in a shootout with the police.

The police retaliated, resulting in the suspect's death.

Authorities recovered from the scene the suspect's firearm, eight sachets of suspected shabu (methamphetamine hydrochloride), a weighing scale, and P6,500 in cash.

On November 5, his younger brother, Luis Bolivar Jr., 31, of Barangay Tabigue, was collared in the said village after police seized from him seven sachets of suspected shabu weighing 3.6 grams and worth P43,200.

Also recovered were P500 marked money and P1,000 boodle money.

The younger Bolivar is also a high-value target and member of Divinagracia drug group.