A MILITIAMAN was killed while his companion managed to escape in a shootout that ensued during an anti-illegal drug operation Thursday, October 10, in Siocon, Zamboanga del Norte, the police said.

Major Helen Galvez, Police Regional Office-Zamboanga Peninsula information officer, said slain was Arseño Villena, 35, a member of the Siocon Internal Security and Defense Auxiliary.

Galvez said that Villena was killed when he and his companion, Sakib Haja Alibbon, pulled handguns and opened fire upon sensing they were dealing illegal drugs with policemen around 1:05 a.m. Thursday at Sitio Pantukan in Poblacion Village, Siocon.

She said the two suspects missed their targets prompting the policemen to return fire that resulted to the death of Villena while Alibbon managed to escape and is being tracked down by policemen.

She said recovered from the shootout scene are the following: one caliber .45 pistol with four live ammunition; six large-sized heat-sealed plastic sachets of suspected shabu; P500 marked money; and, a motorcycle.

Appropriate charges are being readied against Alibbon, she added. (SunStar Zamboanga)