2 ex-cops killed in Davao Norte drug buy-bust

Shootout. (INQUIRER FILE PHOTO/Arnold Almacen)

TAGUM CITY, Davao del Norte – Two former policemen were killed in an anti-drug operation in Carmen, Davao del Norte, on Monday, a police official on Tuesday said.

Senior Supt. Ferdinand Sifuentes, the Davao del Norte police chief, said former SPO2 Norberto Amador and PO1 Noe Gemintiza died after engaging in a shootout with lawmen during a buy-bust operation in Barangay (Village) Ising.

Sifuentes told the Philippine Daily Inquirer by mobile phone that the former policemen had been tagged as high-value targets (HVTs) and among the top drug personalities in the province.

“Our operatives conducted an operation against the two HVTs who were ex-policemen pursuant to Oplan Double Barrel which resulted in the neutralization of the two subjects. But they resisted so an encounter ensued,” Sifuentes said, adding local and anti-narcotics police recovered sachets of shabu and firearms from the slain suspects.

Sifuentes said the operation was the second which resulted in the killing of former members of the government’s uniformed services said to be involved in illegal drugs in Davao del Norte, since the Duterte administration launched its war on drugs over six months ago. Late last year, a former soldier was also killed in an encounter with anti-drug policemen in Panabo City, he said.  SFM/rga