COTABATO CITY——-A suspected drug pusher was killed in an alleged shootout with law enforcers while 15 others were arrested in separate anti-drug operations in Picong town, Lanao del Sur on Friday (May 14).
Director Juvenal Azurin of the Philippine Drug Enforcement Agency (PDEA) in the Bangsamoro Autonomous Region in Muslim Mindanao (BARMM) identified the slain suspect as Kareem Usop Abedin, a resident of Barangay (village) Kabaturan in Picong town.
Two police officers were slightly injured in the brief firefight, Azurin added.
Azurin said seven of Abedin’s companions later surrendered peacefully. They are identified as Jerry Toma, Liya Dimaampao, Ansano Ampuan, Amrudin Sarip, Aminodin Ditucalan, Samsudin Itaw and Libot Dimaampao.
Seized from them were 23 sachets of suspected shabu (crystal meth) and two M16 rifles.
In another operation, authorities arrested eight suspects in an alleged drug den also in the village of Kabaturan. Those arrested were identified as Alioden Buale, Gorbani Bitucalan, Jomar Pagayawan, Samin Abdillah, Bokari Dagu, Asrap Dimampa, Jasser Baguan and Jomar Abdul.
Brig. Gen. Eden Ugale, BARMM police director, said 58 sachets of shabu and a hand grenade were seized at the drug den.
In a third raid, authorities failed to arrest suspected drug dealer Camar Mauyag after he managed to escape before law enforcers arrived in his home.
The operations were launched by a combined force of PDEA agents, soldiers from the Army’s 5th Marine Battalion Landing Team, and policemen from the Lanao del Sur police office and Criminal Investigation and Detection Group.