1 killed, 2 injured in Basilan drug bust

ZAMBOANGA CITY, Philippines—A suspected drug pusher was killed while two police officers were injured in a drug bust in Basilan on Saturday, the authorities said.

The shooting, which took place in Isabela City, was the second bloody drug-related development in Mindanao during the week, following the raid in which seven suspected pushers were killed in Davao City on Friday.

Chief Inspector Ariel Huesca, spokesperson of the Western Mindanao police command, said anti-narcotics agents swooped down on a house which the authorities believed was being used by drug pushers in Barangay Piedad and were met by gun fire.

A brief exchange of shoots took place that resulted in the death of one Abi Jaji and the wounding of police officers Esra Senicula Mariano and JessieBen Ferrer Santua, Huesca said.

Huesca said three other persons were arrested during the raid.

The raiders confiscated sachets of shabu, a 9-millimeter submachine gun and two .45-caliber pistols, Huesca added.