ONE person was killed, while seven others, including two high-value target personalities, were arrested in two separate drug busts in Zamboanga del Norte, the police said on Sunday, October 1.
The Zamboanga del Norte Provincial Police Office identified the slain drug personality as Elmer Culanag, newly-released from prison and a resident of Mitimos, Rizal municipality.
The police said Culanag was killed in a drug bust around 1 p.m., Saturday, September 30, in the village of Diolen, Mutia, Zamboanga del Norte.
The police said Culanag pulled a handgun and open fire after sensing the person he and his unidentified companion were transacting illegal drugs to is an undercover policeman.
The police said Culanag missed his target as the policeman managed to dodge the bullet, prompting the backup personnel to shoot him.
Culanag was rushed but failed to reach the hospital alive while his companion fled aboard a motorcycle, the police said.
Recovered from Culanag’s possession was a 9-mm pistol with two live ammunition, P500 marked money, four small-sized plastic sachets of suspected methamphetamine hydrochloride, locally known as "shabu," two wallets containing P700, an identification card, a pawnshop receipt, and a document issued by the provincial warden.
Also recovered from the crime scene were four empty shells of 9-mm pistol.
Culanag’s remains was turned over to his relatives, the police said.
Arrested in a separate drug bust were Radjul Sahibad, 64 and Aljur Otih, 29, both high-value target drug pushers, Elvin Provida, 21, Shelmin Basa, 18, Haris Halik, 20, Pairing Pascual, 27, and Rano Pascual, 20.
The police said they were arrested around 7 a.m., Saturday, at the residence of Sahibad in the village of Bucana, Siocon, Zamboanga del Norte.
Confiscated from them were 17 small-sized plastic sachets of suspected methamphetamine hydrochloride, locally known as "shabu," P500 marked money, a weighing scale and other illegal drugs paraphernalia, P9,000 in different denominations believe to be proceeds of illegal drug trade, a caliber .45 pistol with 21 live ammunition, and 15 ammunition for M-14 rifle.
Police said they were detained, pending the filing of charges against them. (Bong Garcia/SunStar Philippines)