TWO people allegedly involved in the trade of illegal drugs were killed in a clash with joint police and military operatives in Basilan province, an official announced Wednesday, August 24, 2022.

Police Colonel Pedro Martirez Jr., Basilan police director, said the clash happened around 12:30 p.m. Tuesday, August 23, off Semut village, Akbar, Basilan province.

Martirez identified the slain suspects as Macsud Cuevas, 45, a resident of Bohelebong village, Tipo Tipo, and Dasman Kilala, of Bubuan Island, Tabuan Lasa town.

Martirez said the shootout ensued when Cuevas pulled a caliber .45 pistol and opened fire upon sensing they were transacting illegal drugs with undercover policemen.

He said that Kilala maneuvered their motorboat as they tried to escape.

However, he said Cuevas was fatally hit when the troops returned fire while chasing the suspects. Kilala was also fatally hit after he grabbed the firearm of Cuevas and continue firing during the shootout.

He said the troops recovered from the suspects a motorboat, 20 grams of suspected shabu worth P140,000, a caliber .45 pistol with ammunition, a cellular phone, 89 pieces of P1,000 bill replicas used as boodle money topped with P500 marked money. (SunStar Zamboanga)