RECOVERED EVIDENCE. The recovered shabu and other pieces of evidence during the series of search operations on Saturday morning by the drug enforcement unit of the Police Regional Office-12 in Barangays Poblacion and Upper Klinan, Polomolok town, South Cotabato. Two target-listed pushers were killed in separate shootouts with police operatives while three others were arrested, authorities say. (Photo courtesy of the PRO-12)
GENERAL SANTOS CITY -- Some two is target-listed drug personalities were killed while three others were arrested in a series of raids on Saturday in two villages in Polomolok town, South Cotabato province.
Lt. Col. Alex Joe Orcajada, chief of the Police Regional Office-12 drug enforcement unit, identified the slain suspects as Jay Dante and Japeth Damayo, both of Barangay Poblacion, Polomolok.
Orcajada said the two were killed in separate encounters with RPDEU-12 operatives during the implementation of search warrants in Barangay Poblacion.
He said a brief shootout ensued after Dante resisted and opened fire at a police team that was serving a search warrant at his residence in Maria Rosa Village at around 4:05 a.m.
He said the suspect was declared dead on arrival at a local hospital.
Meanwhile, Orcajada said Damayo was killed after a firefight ensued at his home in Purok San Isidro during a search operation at past 6 a.m.
“The suspects opened fire first so our teams were forced to retaliate to defend themselves,” he said in an interview.
He said the two were known drug pushers in Polomolok and included on the list of drug personalities of the Philippine National Police’s Directorate for Intelligence.
Although the suspects were listed as “street-level” drug pushers, Orcajada said their operations were extensive.
Meanwhile, Orcajada said three other suspected pushers, including a minor, were arrested in three other raids in barangays Klinan and Poblacion.
He identified the suspects as Rolly Miana of Purok Miana, Poblacion; and Joey Parado of Purok Paglaum, Barangay Upper Klinan. The third suspect, a 17-year-old, was nabbed in Maria Rosa Village, Poblacion.
Recovered during the raids were two caliber .38 revolvers, 23 sachets of suspected shabu, and various drug paraphernalia.
Orcajada said they submitted the recorded pieces of evidence to the PRO-12’s crime laboratory for proper examination and valuation.
He said the three arrested suspects, who are detained at the Polomolok municipal police station lockup, will be charged with possession of dangerous drugs and paraphernalia. (PNA)
