FOUR people, including an anti-narcotic agent and three drug personalities, were killed in a shootout in the province of Zamboanga Sibugay, a police official said Tuesday, September 3.
Police Major Lee Eric Humpa, police chief of Ipil, Zamboanga Sibugay, said the shootout happened around 10:15 p.m. Monday at Purok Javier in Upper Pangi village, Ipil.
Humpa identified the fatalities as Jack Roland Bastatas, an agent of the Philippine Drug Enforcement Agency (PDEA), and suspected drug personalities namely, Ibrahim Cula, Jan-jan Mauli, and Absar Cula.
Wounded was Police Corporal Richie Novie Janeo, a member of the Regional Drug Enforcement Unit-9 (RDEU-9) while another drug personality, Rosalie Gonzales Cula, was captured.
Humpa said the shootout ensued as the drug personalities opened fire when the vehicle of the PDEA stopped near them. Bastatas, who was hit in the first volley of gunfire, died instantaneously while Janeo was wounded.
The PDEA agents backed by RDEU-9 policemen and soldiers managed to returned fire and killed three suspects, he said.
He added that the operating team seized some 30.5 grams of suspected shabu, two rifles, six handguns, and ammunition of different calibers.
Humpa said appropriate charges are set to be filed against Cula, who was detained. (SunStar Philippines)