TWO individuals died in Barangay Malanang, Opol, Misamis Oriental on Tuesday night, January 15, after allegedly resisting arrest during a drug bust.
Police identified the slain suspects as Nicanor Macalalag Jr. and Joseph Lumismero Macale. Bboth died at about 7 p.m. in a drug bust jointly conducted by the Regional Drug Enforcement Unit and the Opol Municipal Station.
Investigation showed that Macale drew and fired his firearm towards the police officers while his companion Macalalag threw the hand grenade prompting the authorities to return fire.
The grenade fortunately did not explode.
Both suspects sustained gunshot wounds on their body. They were brought to Northern Mindanao Medical Center (NMMC) but were declared dead on arrival.
Recovered from the crime scene were the Toyota Avanza the suspects used to meet with the undercover police, 1 caliber .38 revolver loaded with 2 fired cartridges and 4 cartridges, 6 cartridge of cal 9mm pistol, 2 big sachets of shabu, P1,000 buy-bust money, 1 cellphone, and the unexploded grenade fragmentation model MK2 without safety pin and safety lever.
Both Macale and Macalalag were considered high-value targets.