KIDAPAWAN CITY (MindaNews / 26 January) – Four drug suspects have been killed since Tuesday in three separate incidents in North Cotabato.
Two were killed in Kabacan, one in Matalam, and one in Kidapawan City, police said.
Supt. Bernard Tayong, Cotabato Provincial Police Office spokesperson said three of the slain suspects shot it out with the raiding teams.
In Kabacan, killed were Jonathan Mangakoy and Sendatuk Baliwan, both residents of Barangay Aringay.
Authorities recovered from the suspects a hand grenade, a pistol, and a shotgun.
In Matalam, a certain Kuyog Pantas was killed after he resisted arrest when police raided his house, around 3 a.m. Friday, Tayong said.
Pantas reportedly fired his pistol at the operatives when he saw them approach his house in Purok Krislam, Barangay Poblacion.
Pantas, who was in the drug watch list of the Philippine Drug Enforcement Agency, had a standing warrant of arrest for violation of Republic Act 9165 or the Comprehensive Dangerous Drugs Act of 2002.
Two persons listed in search warrants issued by the local court in Matalam escaped during the raids, town police chief Senior Inspector Sunny Leoncitio said.
Leoncito said the suspects identified as Johari Sati Sabal and Baks Tayag are now subjects of their manhunt.
In Kidapawan City, an unidentified gunman shot dead a 33-year old mechanic identified as Ramel Macacana, past 4 p.m. Thursday.
Macacana was busy repairing a busted tire at the time. He died an hour after he was rushed to the nearest hospital.
The victim was believed involved in illegal drug trade.
Tayong admitted that despite the death of several suspects the “drug menace” has remained because it has become a lucrative business.
He added that the people who are involved in illegal drug trade are users themselves. (Malu Cadelina Manar/MindaNews)
