8 drug, theft suspects slain in North Cotabato

COTABATO CITY, Philippines—Eight persons suspected of involvement in illegal drug activities and motorcycle theft were killed during a police operation in North Cotabato on Saturday, the police said.

Another suspect was arrested during the 2:30 a.m. anti-illegal drug operation in Barangay (village) Poblacion in Matalam town, according to Supt. Maximo Sebastian, the head of the special police raiding team from the Central Mindanao police office.

Sebastian identified the slain suspected illegal drug peddlers and users as Lamping Mamakan, Taingko Lamping, Haron Lamping Mamakan, Abuzaid Runas, Tahir Kasan Salipuddin, Mustapha Tausi Mangapan, Mama Musha and Jobaina Lumantag.

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Arrested was Aratok Iba Balabagan.

Sebastian told reporters that the raiding team, composed of elements of the police’s Special Action Force, the Police Regional Public Safety Battalion, the Criminal Investigation and Detection Group, and the North Cotabato provincial police office, also seized two fragmentation grenades, a cal. 45 pistol, a cal. 38 revolver, illegal drugs and shabu (methamphetamine) paraphernalia.

He said the raiding team entered sitio Quiapo around 2:30 a.m. but was greeted with bullets and grenades.

“We were to serve the search warrants against the suspects for illegal drug activities but we were met by bullets and grenades,” Sebastian told reporters.

“We fought back and the exchange of gunfire lasted for more than 10 minutes,” Sebastian said. When the suspects cease firing, eight dead bodies were found, he added.

Sebastian said the area was known in the village as haven of illegal drug in the town “so after confirming the reports through intelligence operation, we sought for search warrants.”

Sebastian justified the operation saying the targets were armed and dangerous.

No one was hurt on the government side, he said.

The eight suspects were brought to the hospital in Matalam, where they were official declared dead by attending physician.

The arrested suspect remained in police custody and was still undergoing investigation, Sebastian said.