INVESTIGATION agent 1 Joel Hinita died after sustaining three gunshots on his body and one on his head in an encounter with illegal drug dealers in a drug-bust operation by the Philippine Drug Enforcement Agency (PDEA) Monday.
Six alleged drug dealers were arrested and now under PDEA detention. The suspect on the shooting was identified Ibrahim Jafar Undaki, 32, also known as “Ibra.”
Five other suspects were Camad Makataon, 42, Macoy Demarunsi Mamandi, 41, Abul Kahir, 16, Tahir Regaro Sarif, 36, and Mamad Acmad Racman, 33.
PDEA Regional Director Emerson L. Margate said they are still investigating who shot Hinita, but pinned on Ibra as the primary suspect.
“Ibra is the primary suspect to the murder of our agent, and the other five are primary suspects to drug dealing,” Margate added.
However, Ibra denied the accusations, saying, “I don’t have weapons. I am just a tricycle driver here, I am not even a resident here in Cagayan de Oro.”
Ibra’s wife, Omie Undaki, said her husband is not involved in any drug deals.
Fatima Racman, Racman’s mother, hurried at PDEA-Northern Mindanao office and defended that her son is not involved. "Tig-hugas raman mi ug luy-a, nadamay rami ani," she said.
Twelve sachets of shabu and weapons were recovered from the suspects. The market value of the 12 sachets cost more or less 30,000 pesos.
Margate alleged that Ibra has the entire city as his market in illegal drugs trading.
“Last year, when I took the post as the director here, I already heard his name and he is already on the watchlist. We have conducted operations to arrest him and we have had many leads, but we have arrested him now with multiple charges. Hindi basta-bastang target ito si Ibra,” he added.
Ibra will be charged with murder and attempted murder if proven he shot Hinita. The other five will be charged according to Section 5 (sale, trading, administration, dispensation, delivery, distribution and transportation of dangerous drugs and/or controlled precursors and essential chemicals) and 26 (Attempt or Conspiracy) of RA 9165 (Comprehensive Dangerous Act of 2002).
“We will be extending our full support and assistance to Hinita,” Margate said.