Man slain in anti-drug operation in Cotabato

Cotabato map | INQUIRER.net

PIGCAWAYAN, Cotabato — A police anti-drug operation here on Wednesday afternoon turned bloody when the suspects traded shots with law enforcers.

Major Carl Jayson Baynosa, Pigcawayan town police chief, said Bhan Ali, 40, of Barangay Poblacion, Pagalungan town, Maguindanao, was killed while his companion, Ali Tahir Musa, 53, also from Pagalungan, was injured.

Baynosa said police manning checkpoints in Barangay Upper Baguer flagged down a black Toyota Avanza, with plate number NDC-8211, driven by Musa with Ali sitting in front at past 4 p.m.

Instead of pulling over, one of the suspects opened fire on police officers, triggering a pursuit and an exchange of gunfire that hit the suspects.

In the course of escaping the pursuing law enforces, Musa’s vehicle hit a passenger jeepney, injuring three of its passengers, Baynosa said.

Musa and Ali were also hurt in the collision, Baynosa added.

The five injured were rushed to a hospital in nearby Midsayap town where Ali was pronounced dead.

Police found a cal. 45 pistol, nine boxes of smuggled cigarettes worth P135,000, suspected crystal meth, and cash amounting to P11,000 inside the suspects’ vehicle.

RELATED STORY

PDEA seizes P6.8 million worth of meth in Cotabato City