(UPDATED) -- A former mayor of Parang town in Maguindanao and his brother were killed after allegedly resisting the police in separate raids Friday dawn, January 4, in Parang town and Cotabato City.
Talib Basa Abo Sr., 62, former mayor of Parang town, was killed in his residence in Barangay Rosary Heights 7 in Parang town, while his brother Disumimba Basa Abo, 51, was shot dead in Barangay Mother Bagua in Cotabato City.
Superintendent Aldrin Gonzales, Police Regional Office Soccsksargen spokesperson, said the Abo brothers separately resisted the anti-narcotics police operatives who simultaneously served several search warrants against them around 12:40 a.m. Friday.
Police also raided the house of Bai Amelia Macaumbang Abo, Talib’s 42-year-old daughter who is a councilor in Parang town, but no evidence were recovered from her.
At least P590,000 worth of illegal drugs were recovered from Talib’s residence while nearly P3 million of suspected shabu, or methamphetamine hydrochloride, were seized from his brother.
Several long and short unlicensed firearms were also recovered from the homes of the Abo brothers.
Members of the Abo family belied the police claim that the brothers fought back, saying both were asleep when the raiding teams swooped down on their homes.
Abo was included in President Rodrigo Duterte's drug list.
Duterte earlier accused Abo of being one of the personalities behind the illegal drugs trade in Davao City. Abo had denied the allegation.
The search warrants were based on alleged violations of Republic Act (RA) 9165, or Comprehensive Dangerous Drug Act 2002, and RA 10591, or Illegal possession of firearms and explosives. (With Edgar E. Fuerzas of Superbalita Davao)