TWO drug personalities were killed, while five others were wounded in a joint law enforcement operation that also saw the dismantling of an alleged drug den in Cotabato City, officials said Monday, June 1.

The law enforcement operation was jointly conducted by the operatives of the Philippine Drug Enforcement Agency (PDEA) in the Bangsamoro Autonomous Region in Muslim Mindanao (Barmm), Cotabato City Police Office and Joint Task Force Central.

Major General Diosdado Carreon, Joint Task Force Central commander, said two of the suspects were killed as a shootout ensued after the suspects opened fire when the joint government operatives launched the anti-drug operation Saturday, May 30, in Rosary Heights II village, Cotabato City.

Carreon identified the slain drug personalities as Mash-ud Mamasaunda Usop and Richard Suharto Tuas.

Arrested were Norjafar Gandawali, Jun Usman, Tanz Kevin Ampatuan, Rohaimin Dalumbang and Richard Abadian.

"Our strong collaborative efforts resulted in significant accomplishments in the first six months of 2020," Carreon said.

"Rest assured that we will remain steadfast in accomplishing our mandated tasks for the people of Central Mindanao," he added.

Seized during the anti-drug operation were five grams of shabu with an estimated value of P136,000, a bundle of P15,000 boodle money, marked money, a caliber .45 pistol with one magazine loaded with nine rounds of ammunition, one KG9 semi-automatic pistol with one magazine loaded with 21 rounds of 9-mm ammunition, one 9-mm pistol with one magazine loaded with nine rounds of ammunition, and several illegal drug paraphernalia.

"In this time of turmoil, we are exhausting all our capabilities to support the government and other agencies in flattening the curve of the Covid-19 pandemic, notwithstanding our relentless efforts to end lawlessness and criminalities in our area of operation," said Lieutenant General Cirilito Sobejana, commander of the Western Mindanao Command.

The neutralized personalities and recovered items were placed under the custody of PDEA-Barmm for proper disposition. (SunStar Zamboanga)