KORONADAL CITY – Three suspected drug suspects – including a village councilor – were killed after they reportedly engaged police officers in shootouts during separate anti-drug operations.
Chief Supt. Marcelo Morales, Central Mindanao police director, identified the slain suspects as Jaime Sunga, Reynaldo Navarro and John Erwin Magbanua, all of Barangay New Pangasinan.
Morales said members of the Regional Police Drug Enforcement Unit (RPDU) who were armed with search warrants and backed by elements of the city police office, went to Barangay New Pangasinan at 2 a.m.
However as the law enforcers approached the home of Sunga, an incumbent village councilman, they were met by gunfire. The police officers then returned fire.
Sunga and Navarro were killed while a third suspect, Erwin John Cabrido, managed to elude arrest, police said.
In a separate operation in Megalland Subdivision, also in Barangay New Pangasinan, Erwin Magbanua, a hospital worker, allegedly fired his handgun on approaching lawmen.
Magbanua was initially injured and was rushed to a hospital but died on the way, police said.
In both incidents, police said firearms and shabu were recovered from the suspects. /muf