SAF trooper, drug suspect killed as Tokhang turns into shootout in Sulu

Policemen during an anti-drug operation (CDN FILE PHOTO/ LITO TECSON)

ZAMBOANGA CITY — A member of the police’s elite Special Action Force was killed when a drug suspect suddenly fired a rifle at approaching law enforcers visiting homes under the Oplan Tokhang in Barangay Kaunayan in Patikul, Sulu, around midnight Monday.

The suspect, Annudin Akiran Daharani, was also killed when members of the police team fired back, Supt. Reynald Ariño, commander of the 5th Special Action Battalion, said.

Oplan Tokhang is the program of the Philippine National Police in which teams of policemen visit the homes of suspected drug pushers and users and persuade them to return to the fold of the law and undergo rehabilitation.

Ariño said law enforcers were hoping to have a talk with Daharani, described as a notorious pusher, in Sitio Bullo under Tokhang, when the suspect suddenly fired his Garand rifle, hitting PO2 Tirso Mantalaba on the chest.

Mantalaba’s companions retaliated and also critically injured the suspect, Ariño said.

Both Mantalaba and Daharani were brought to the Sulu provincial hospital but they died before receiving any treatment, he said.

Recovered from Daharani were the Garand rifle and a .45-pistol, six heat-sealed plastic sachets containing suspected shabu (methamphetamine hydrochloride), over 100 pieces of ammunition for various firearms and cash.  SFM