Suspect killed, 3 others arrested in separate drug busts in Mindanao

PAGADIAN CITY – A drug suspect was killed for reportedly putting up a violent resistance while three others were arrested in separate anti-drug operations in Western Mindanao over the weekend, authorities said Sunday.

The slain suspect was identified as Amet Puengan, 49, who alleged resisted arrest during a buy-bust operation in Malangas, Zamboanga Sibugay on Saturday.

According to a report from the Malangas Municipal Police Office, Puengan was transacting with a poseur-buyer and, sensing it was a trap, fired a .38-caliber revolver at a police officer.

The officer fired back and hit Puengan, who died while being rushed to a hospital.

Officers seized from him the revolver (which had no serial number) with four live rounds, the cartridge from the shot he fires, four sachets of shabu, and a motorcycle.

Also on Saturday, In Dipolog City, Bienvenido Gamolo, who was eighth in the city’s list of drug personalities, was arrested during a buy-bust operation conducted by the Philippine Drug Enforcement Agency (PDEA).

PDEA agents seized from three heat-sealed transparent plastic sachets containing a white crystalline substance believed to be crystal meth, or shabu, with an estimated value of P157,000.

In Pagadian City, members of the Drug Enforcement Unit of the Zamboanga del Sur Police Provincial Office and the Pagadian City Police Office arrested Juhaime Muñez, 20, in a buy-bust operation, also on Saturday.

Recovered from her possession were five pieces of heat-sealed sachets of shabu and the marked money used in the transaction.

In Kumalarang town in Zamboanga del Sur, authorities arrested Rodolfo Lopez, 34, in buy-bust operation in Barangay Poblacion. Seized from him were two sachets of shabu and the marked money used in the transaction.

Charges in connection with the anti-drugs law were being prepared against all three suspects. /atm