Alleged MILF rebel killed, 11 nabbed in Sultan Kudarat drug raid

KIDAPAWAN CITY, Philippines—An alleged Moro Islamic Liberation Front (MILF) rebel was killed while 11 of his men—including an injured gunman—were arrested in an anti-drug operation in a remote village of Esperanza, Sultan Kudarat early Friday.
Senior Superintendent Raul Supiter, the Sultan Kudarat provincial director, identified the slain suspect as Ugalingan Manuel, alias Commander Boyet.
Supiter said combined police units and agents of the Philippine Drug Enforcement Agency—backed by soldiers—stormed Ugalingan’s hideout in Sitio Ugis in Barangay (village) Marquez. He said the raiding team was backed by a search warrant.
Supiter said Manuel and his men fired at the raiding team as it approached his residence in Sitio Ugis, prompting them to return fire.

He said Ugalingan was wounded, along with another gunman, but died while being transported to a hospital. Eleven of Ugalingan’s men were arrested after the shootout, he said.

Seized from the suspects were various assault rifles and handguns and grenade launchers, such as an RPG.
Supiter said the raiding team also found 10 sachets of suspected shabu (methamphetamine) in Ugalingan’s house.

The arrested MILF suspects were now being held at the Esperanza Police Station pending the filing of appropriate charges against them in court, he said./rga
 

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