Drug suspect dies in buy-bust operation in Cotabato

INQUIRER image

COTABATO CITY—Police authorities here killed a drug suspect, who allegedly tried to lob a hand grenade at the anti-drugs operatives during a buy bust operation.

Chief Inspector Aldrin Gonzales, speaking for the Central Mindanao police, said a poseur-buyer was dealing with Mohammad Awal around 11:30 p.m. Friday in Barangay Bagua 2 here but the suspect had apparently sensed that he was being subjected to a buy-bust.

Awal was with a companion, a village watchman.

Law enforcers immediately moved to arrest him but Awal pulled out a hand grenade, according to Gonzales.

“This prompted the police to fire at him,” Gonzales told the Inquirer.

Awal’s companion, Barangay Police Action Team (BPAT) member Saydamin Balao, yielded with 14 sachets of suspected shabu, drug paraphernalia, and the marked money.

Awal, who was fatally wounded, was rushed to the Cotabato Regional Hospital, where he was pronounced dead on arrival.

Criminal charges were being readied against Balao, who was detained at the city police office here. /jpv