Drug suspect killed, police chief hurt in Davao Sur operation

MAGSAYSAY, Davao del Sur — A suspected drug pusher was killed while the chief of police here was critically wounded in an anti-drug operation around 10 a.m. Wednesday.

Authorities – led by the Magsaysay town police chief, Senior Insp. Ricky Boy Remoroza – were serving an arrest warrant against a man suspected of drug pushing and identified as Vicky Calago, for violation of the anti-drug law and direct assault when they were reportedly fired at by the suspect.

A shootout ensued and Calago was subsequently killed while Remoroza was hit in the chest and abdomen.

Remoroza was immediately rushed to a hospital while post-scene investigators recovered a homemade .38 revolver and two sachets of suspected shabu (methamphetamine hydrochloride) alongside the suspect’s body.

On Monday, elements of the police’s Criminal Investigation and Detection Group (CIDG) also arrested two suspected drug pushers during a buy-bust operation conducted in Digos City.

Chief Insp. Teody Condesa, CIDG Davao del Sur team leader, said Joenel Mangao Arana, 30, of Barangay Lanao in Kidapawan City, and his partner, Yeyen Vertodazo Garrido, 33, of Digos City, were caught in the act of selling shabu.

Seized from the suspects were eight sachets of suspected shabu valued at P184,000, two firearms, cash and other items.

Charges had already been filed against the two suspects, Condesa said.  SFM