TWO siblings allegedly involved in illegal drug trade were killed in a two-minute exchange of gunfire in a drug bust jointly enforced by the Criminal Investigation and Detection Group (CIDG)-Northern Mindanao and the Regional Intelligence and Investigation Division (RIID) at Purok 6 in Barangay Puerto, Cagayan de Oro, on August 8.
Authorities identified the suspects as Jose Louise Calderon and Ramon Carlos Calderon who were shot dead by the arresting officers after resisting arrest.
Police Chief Inspector Melgar Devaras, CIDG-Northern Mindanao deputy regional chief, said they had been tracking the suspects for two months now for their alleged illegal drug pushing following intelligence reports.
Devaras said suspects fired at them prompting the arresting officers to return fire and neutralize the situation.
Suspects were rushed to the hospital but declared dead shortly by the attending physician.
They reportedly sustained gunshot wounds on the head and body.
Devaras said that the siblings were big time drug pusher in the area citing a drug den adjacent to the suspects’ residence.
“May drug den sa isang bodega at adjacent room ay bahay nila. Ang nangyayari bumibili sa bahay nila at dun sa bodega dinadala,” said Devaras adding that the suspects’ drug proliferation was extensive since they directly get the drugs from Ozamiz.
Authorities confiscated several items such as sachets of “shabu” and dried marijuana leaves, one cal.38 revolver, marked money, assorted drug paraphernalia, 14 pieces cal. 38 cartridges, one magnum revolver with one fired cartridge and two misfired cartridges and two cartridges, two units air gun rifle, one unit air gun pistol, one unit improvised hand gun and one unit Danao City made cal. 38 revolver.
The family slain accepted the fate of their kin and prayed for the eternal repose of their souls.
Kristie Sabanpan, suspect’s aunt, confirmed that her nephews did engage in illegal drugs for quite some time.
“We are sad we lost them despite sa ilang gihimo nga not good at all. It’s a choice they made in life. Wala mi nagkulang sa pag-remind sa ila. This is the circumstance of their choices, but we cannot blame them also. Usahay dili mabut-an ang tawo, there might be something going on inside them nga dili sila mag choose sa what is needed to be done, aware man sila but this is where their life ended,” Sabanpan said.
Sabanpan said the suspects were partners in a meat shop business. She has no idea on how the suspects acquired the guns seized from their possession.
“We don’t know their actions during the operation so we can’t say kung nisukol ba gayud sila but this is how it ended, we have to accept it,” Sabanpan said.