(Google map of Polomolok, South Cotabato)
GENERAL SANTOS CITY – An alleged member of a local terrorist group was killed after reportedly resisting arrest during a buy-bust operation in Polomolok town, South Cotabato province on Monday afternoon.
Capt. Rommel Hitalia, deputy chief of Polomolok municipal police station, identified the slain suspect as Joven Saligan Cabalo, who was tagged as an active member of the Dawlah Islamiyah-Hassan faction (Nilong sub-group).
He said Cabalo was subjected to entrapment by joint operatives from the Polomolok police and the 1st South Cotabato Mobile Force Company around 1:05 p.m. Monday in Purok 8, Barangay Sulit in Polomolok.
The suspect sold a sachet of suspected shabu worth PHP500 to a police officer who posed as a buyer, he said.
During the transaction, Hitalia said Cabalo reportedly drew a handgun and opened fired after noticing that he was dealing with lawmen.
“It led to a brief firefight that resulted to the fatal wounding of the suspect,” he said in a report released on Tuesday.
Hitalia said Cabalo was declared dead by attending doctors upon arrival at the municipal hospital.
Recovered at the scene were a black Motorstar 125 motorcycle, .38-caliber revolver loaded with two bullets, two fired cartridges of .38-caliber, four fired cartridges of 9mm handgun, PHP500 marked bill, and a red coin purse containing 10 sachets of suspected shabu worth PHP6,860.
The police official said the suspect, who was a resident of Purok 4 in Barangay Lapu, was a known shabu pusher and included in the town’s drug watch list.
He added that they received reports that Cabalo served as a runner for the Nilong sub-group of the Dawlah Islamiyah that was involved in a string of criminal and terror activities in the area. (PNA)
