4 drug suspects killed in shootout with cops, troopers in Cotabato City

COTABATO CITY – Police officers, backed up by troopers, killed four persons here in an anti-drug sweep on Sunday, barely a day after law enforcers killed a village official who allegedly put up a violent fight.

As in Saturday’s incident that killed Barangay Kalanganan Mother Councilor Sadat Ayunan, the slain suspects on Sunday also allegedly engaged authorities in a shootout.

Senior Supt. Rolly Octavio, chief of the Cotabato City Police Station, identified the slain suspects as Ariel dela Cruz, Aldong Guimla, Saldi Saptula and Datukon Mamadra.

According to Octavio, the suspects fired on enforcers serving them 25 search warrants in Barangay Poblacion 2 around 1 a.m.

“They resisted arrest and shot it out with our law enforcers,” Octavio said.

He said two others were arrested, but the main target, Torix Mamadra, managed to flee.

Recovered from the slain and arrested suspects were a fragmentation grenade, two .45-caliber pistols, and a 9-millimeter pistol. /atm