8, including 4 troopers, slain in army antidrug operations

COTABATO CITY —At least eight persons, including four soldiers, were killed and eight soldiers were wounded during antidrug operations on Sunday in a remote village in  Midsayap, North Cotabato, authorities said.

Col. Noly Samarita, commander of the Army’s 602nd brigade, said the  firefight erupted when joint government forces were to serve a warrant of arrest on Moks Masgal, alias Commander Madrox, leader of armed lawless  elements, in Barangay Nabalawag at 4:30 a.m.

An Army report identified the fatalities as PO3 Darwin Espallardo of North  Cotabato PNP, Cpl. Jose Miravalles and Pfc. Jaypee Duran, both of Division  Recon Co., and an unidentified military guide.

Four followers of Commander Madrox, including his brother, were also killed.

Emmanuel Peralta, Cotabato provincial police chief, said Masgal was a Moro Islamic Liberation Front sub-leader with about 50 armed followers.

He said Masgal was believed to be behind the distribution of shabu in  North Cotabato and Maguindanao. Edwin O. Fernandez, Inquirer Mindanao