TWO policemen were killed in a shootout with operatives of the Counter Intelligence Task Force (CITF) of the Philippine National Police (PNP), officials said Saturday, August 18, 2018.
Senior Superintendent Alan Nazarro, Zamboanga City Police Office (ZCPO) director, said the incident happened shortly after 3 p.m. Saturday in Ayala village, 16.5 kilometers west of this city.
Nazarro identified those killed as Police Officer 3 Ronald Bernardo and Police Officer 2 Ma. Oliver Olaso, both assigned with the Station Drug Enforcement Team of ZCPO’s Police Station 9.
He said the shootout occurred when the two slain policemen noticed they were tailed, but unknown to them were CITF operatives.
Nazarro said recovered from them were suspected “shabu” (methamphetamine hydrochloride) packed in two medium-size heat-sealed plastic sachets, two handguns and spent shells.
He said the activities of the two slain policemen had long been monitored by the CITF, which was activated to run after rouge policemen.
“It was a legitimate operation of the CITF,” said Chief Superintendent Billy Beltran, Police Regional Office-Zamboanga Peninsula director.
However, the relatives of the two slain policemen were surprised over the incident since they just came from an anti-drug operation in nearby Cawit village. (SunStar Philippines)