ANOTHER suspected drug personality whom the police claimed to have been armed with a gun and fought back during a drug raid was killed in Zone 2, Sinai Laguindingan town, Friday night, January 18.
Police anti-illegal drug operatives killed Mervin Nara, who was figured in the drug watch list of the Misamis Oriental Provincial Police Office (Moppo).
The search warrant for violation of the Republic Act (RA) 9165 or the Comprehensive Dangerous Drugs Act was issued by a court in Manticao town last January 17.
Investigators insist that the suspect was the first to draw and fired his gun at the raiding team, forcing the operatives to retaliate.
The suspect was hit and was brought to the nearest hospital but he did not get there alive.
Authorities recovered the suspect's 38 revolver, three fired cartridges cases of 38 revolver, a plastic container with eight sachets of suspect’s shabu (methamphetamine hydrochloride) and personal belongings.
Inspector Princess Joy Enriquez, spokesperson of Moppo, said Nara was the fifth drug suspect killed in the province for this month alone.
However, she maintained and assured the public that police officers in the province uphold and respect human rights in every operation.
“Mayroon lang pong cases that we cannot avoid especially kapag nanlaban ang suspect. We always follow kung ano po ang procedure with regards sa mga police operations natin,” Enriquez said.