Drug suspect killed in police chase after firing at cops

KORONADAL CITY – For allegedly resisting arrest and trading bullets with law enforcers, a 35 year-old suspected drug supplier was killed during a chase that started from Isulan, Sultan Kudarat and ended in Sto. Niño, South Cotabato on Thursday afternoon.

Supt. Joefel Siason, police chief of Isulan, said the 4 p.m. shootout that killed Reggie Bonghe took place after police arrested suspected drug peddler, Melvin Paulo, 37, during a drug buy-bust operation in Barangay Kolambog, Isulan where four sachets of shabu were recovered.

Siason said that a mobile phone was also recovered from Paulo.

“While we are in custody of his mobile phone, a message came in telling him that supplies of shabu are coming shortly,” Siason said.

“So we set up entrapment by waiting for the supplier to arrive,” Siason said, adding that the suspected supplier arrived but quickly left when he noticed law enforcers around.

A chase ensued, with Bonghe on a motorbike speeding to the town of Sto. Niño.  A blocking force made Bonghe divert his route.

Along Crossing Dose in Barangay Poblacion Sto. Niño, he fired at pursuing lawmen, triggering a shootout, Siason said.

He said Bonghe was initially critically wounded but died while being rushed to the hospital.

Siason said recovered from Bonghe was a cal. 45 pistol with three emptied magazines and a huge sachet of shabu he was to deliver to Paulo. JE