DAVAO CITY (MindaNews/ 23 Feb) — Four inmates were killed and three police officers were injured during an ‘Oplan Greyhound’ operation inside the Davao City Jail in Ma-a on Saturday morning where authorities recovered two sachets of suspected shabu worth 160,000 pesos, drug paraphernalia, and deadly weapons.
Oplan Greyhound is an anti-illegal drugs and anti-contraband campaign conducted to prevent the entry, use and movement of contraband within jail premises to protect the public, employees and inmates.
A report released by the Davao City Police Office (DCPO) said joint forces from Police Regional Office 11, Bureau of Jail Management and Penology, DCPO, Regional Mobile Force Battalion, Philippine Drugs and Enforcement Agency, and Criminal Investigation and Detection Group conducted a joint operation at 10:30 a.m. to clear the jail of illegal drugs.
As the authorities took the inmates out of Cell Number 18 at the BJMP Annex Building for frisking, cell searching, and random drug testing, at least four inmates, identified as Alvin Celis, Dexter Delfino, Flor Leonard Restsuro, and Jerry Fernandez, suspiciously stayed behind.
When authorities asked to them get out of the cell, one of them allegedly drew “sumpak” (improvised gun) and shot at the security officer, who was unscathed as he wore a bulletproof vest.
It added the security forces fired guns at the inmates when they took out bladed weapons and attempted to assault the police.
Three police officers identified as PO2 Jonie Dela Fuente, PO1 Ramon Rey Uyanguren, and PO 1 Vincent Lomoljo sustained stabbed wounds in stomach, forearm, and right arm, respectively.
The injured suspects were immediately brought to Southern Philippines Medical Center but they expired later on. (Antonio L. Colina IV / MindaNews)