Suspected drug user shot dead in Davao Oriental police ops

TAGUM CITY — A suspected drug user was killed in a shootout with police in Mati City, Davao Oriental on Monday, police on Tuesday said.

Jemar Cañete died of gunshot wounds after allegedly firing at lawmen during a search operation at a house at Barangay (Village) Central around 12:40 p.m., according to Senior Inspector Catherine dela Rey, Southern Mindanao police regional spokesperson.

Dela Rey said teams from the Mati City police station, Davao Oriental police provincial office as well as provincial and regional anti-drug enforcement units carried out the operation against Archiel Arandoque alias Bobong it his house in Sitio (Sub-village) Riverside.

The operation was carried out by virtue of a search warrant issued by Judge Niño Batingana of the 11th Regional Trial Court branch 6.
Arandoque was apprehended but Cañete drew a firearm and shot at the police, prompting the enforcers to fire back, the regional police spokesperson said.

A separate report said the wounded Cañete was rushed to the nearest hospital but was pronounced dead upon arrival by attending physicians.

Recovered from Arandoque’s house were one large and four small sachets of suspected methamphetamine hydrochloride or shabu, drug paraphernalia, an Uzi submachine pistol, a cal. 38 revolver, an improvised cal. 22 and a magazine from cal. 45 pistol with seven rounds of ammunition. JE