2 nabbed for illegal drugs, firearms in Sarangani

KORONADAL CITY-Two suspected law offenders, including a village councilor, were injured and arrested during an alleged shoot-out with authorities conducting separate anti-criminality operations in Malapatan, Sarangani on Friday, authorities said Saturday.

Chief Inspector Aldrin Gonzales, spokesperson of the Central Mindanao Police Office, identified the injured suspects as Al Sambaga and Rakib Morib.

The raiding teams also seized suspected shabu and firearms during the raids conducted in Sapu Masla, Gonzales said.

Two teams from the Sarangani provincial police office and the Malapatan town police conducted the raids around 2:30 a.m., the spokesperson said.

The raiding teams were backed by 18 search warrants issued against Sambaga, Morib, Rene Unos Kamid, Jeannete Orquillas, Napia Unos Kamid, and Misuari Dalgan Taib.

Gonzales said Sambaga fired on the approaching lawmen and was injured in the exchange of fire.

Seized from Sambaga were a .45 caliber pistol, a hand grenade, and several sachets of suspected shabu, he said.

The team members assigned to Morib’s house were also met with gunfire and retaliated, injuring the second suspect.

“Our police enforcers only responded with minimal force and only injured the suspects, no extra judicial killing here,” Gonzales told the Inquirer.

Guns and suspected shabu were also recovered from Morib’s house, he said.

Both suspects were now under tight police watch as they were being treated for their injuries.

Charges for violation of the anti-drugs and the firearms laws were also being prepared against them.