9 ‘nanlaban’ dead in North Cotabato town

Policemen and soldiers killed nine drug suspects and arrested one during antidrug operations in the town of Matalam, North Cotabato province, on Friday and Saturday, according to police spokespersons.

Drugs and guns were seized during the raids in the village of Kilada in Matalam.

The latest killings bring to 76 the death toll so far in the war on drugs in Central Mindanao since January, said Supt. Aldrin Gonzales, regional police spokesperson.

Supt. Bernard Tayong, of the North Cotabato police, said a team of policemen and soldiers was serving a search warrant on the houses of suspects Dadting Kasan and Intan Aban in Kilada when it was fired upon past 11 p.m. on Friday.

Authorities said at least seven of the suspects were critically wounded.

But the volume of fire from the suspects’ camp was heavy and forced the retreat of the law enforcement team, according to Chief Insp. Sunny Leoncito, Matalam police chief.

Leoncito said the team returned on Saturday but was fired upon again. At least two suspects were killed on Saturday. —Edwin Fernandez and Williamor Magbanua