COTABATO CITY –– An alleged drug peddler was killed while two of his companions escaped during a drug buy-bust operation in Datu Odin Sinsuat town, Maguindanao Tuesday.
Juvenal Azurin, regional director of the Philippine Drug Enforcement Agency in the Bangsamoro Autonomous Region, said soldiers and anti-drug operatives were about to arrest a certain Dats, an alleged drug peddler in Datu Odin Sinsuat, when the latter opened fire on approaching law enforcers, triggering a shootout about 3 p.m. on Tuesday.
Dats, who was allegedly armed with a caliber 45 pistol, died on the spot. There was no reported casualty on the government side.
Operatives seized from Dats suspected shabu worth about P3.4 million, buy-bust money composed of original and photo-copied P1,000 bills, a caliber 45 pistol, and a mobile phone.
Azurin admitted that Dats had two companions who escaped.
Charges of violation of the Comprehensive Dangerous Drugs Act of 2002 were being prepared against the two suspects at large.