TWO suspected drug personalities were killed in separate anti-drug operations in Misamis Oriental and Cagayan de Oro City on Friday, September 21.
Members of the Naawan town police killed Carlo Mamauag, 37, after he allegedly fought back during a drug bust.
Naawan town police chief Senior Inspector Ivan Charles Abastillas said the suspect pulled his short improvised shotgun after sensing that he was dealing with a police officer.
"Nahalata sa suspect nga iyang ka-transact is police busa nibunot siya'g armas gani naglayog pa sila sa poseur buyer pero nakapabuto gyud siya pero walay naigo (The suspect sensed that he was dealing with a police so he pulled his gun, they even wrestled with the poseur buyer and he was able to fire his weapon, but did not hit anyone)," he said.
Back-up operatives were forced to shoot the suspect after seeing the poseur buyer and the suspect grappling for the gun.
The suspect was hit four times and was rushed to the hospital but was declared dead on arrival.
Allegedly recovered from the suspect's possession were a sachet of suspected shabu (methamphetamine hydrochloride) and an extra bullet for the firearm.
Abastillas said the suspect was known for dealing illegal drugs in the town and had refused to heed the government's “Oplan Tokhang”.
The police also received several complaints from residents against the suspect.
"Daghan tao gareklamo ani sa iya tungod sa kalabad ani niya (Many people have already complained about his mischief),"he said.
"Dili gyud namo intention nga patyon kay kutob sa among makaya gusto namo naa gyud due process pero unfortunately nanlaban unya wala mi mahimo but to protect also ourselves kay naa pud mi pamilya (We never intended to kill him, we want to afford him due process as much as we can but unfortunately he fought back and we had no choice but to protect ourselves because we also have families),"he added.
Meanwhile, members of the Police Station 8 and City Drug Enforcement Unit (CDEU) of the Cagayan de Oro City Police Office (Cocpo) killed Jonas Cababanez, 38, barangay tanod (village watchman) of Pagalungan, after he allegedly fought back with the police in a drug bust.
Police said the suspect drew and fired his caliber 45 pistol after noticing that he was dealing with the police, forcing authorities to retaliate.
The suspect sustained gunshot wounds and was brought to the hospital but did not get there alive.
Seized were a sachet of suspected shabu and the suspect's gun.
CDEU chief Senior Inspector Excyllo Alcantara said the suspect was a member of Batang Mindanao (BM) gang and was once detained for a murder case but he is uncertain if it was because he had served his sentence or the case was dismissed.
He also said the neighborhood identified the suspect as responsible for theft incidents in the village.
"Yun nga sabi ng mga kapitbahay (The neighbors where wondering) how come he became a member of the tanod na identified siya sa mga kapitbahay na suspek sa mga nakawan (when he is identified already as suspect for theft)," Alcantara said.