2 hurt in shootout as Cotabato cops raid drug dens

 COTABATO CITY--Two people were injured as shootout ensued when police and military operatives raided five suspected drug dens here at dawn Friday.

Police said the raid resulted to the arrest of 13 people and the wounding of two civilians, who were caught in the crossfire when the suspected drug personalities traded shots with the lawmen during the raid.

The raid was carried out on the strength of 18 search warrants issued by a regional court  against the Ampuan family, who allegedly maintains the drug dens.

Chief Insp. Reynaldo Delantien, Police Station 1 chief, said the raiding team searched five houses owned by the Ampuan family around 4 a.m. Friday in Sitio Tukananes, Barangay Poblacion 7 in this city.

The five houses, which are located in one compound, allegedly served as drug dens.

However, members of the Ampuan family, who are the target of the raid, managed to escape.  

“Unluckily, the target of search warrants managed to elude arrest, Delantien said, adding they may have been alerted before the law enforcers came in.

“In fact, they fired at our lawmen but nobody was hurt among government forces,” Delantien said. He did not say how many people  comprised the Ampuan family.

He said the two injured civilians were rushed to the hospital and were declared in good condition.

He said before the operation, the local police invited the suspects to voluntarily surrender under the PNP’s “Oplan Tokhang (knock-plea). The request was ignored.

Delantien said the Ampuan family members are in the drugs watch list of the local police.

He said they have placed under investigation the 13 arrested suspects who are detained at the lock-up cell of Police Station 1 while charges for violations of the comprehensive dangerous drugs act are being prepared against them. (PNA)