BUY-BUST. Operatives of the Philippine Drug Enforcement Agency arrest Arnold Ferrer, 47, a target-listed drug personality on Thursday (Oct. 1, 2020) in a buy-bust operation in Ipil, Zamboanga Sibugay. Ferrer is one of the three arrested drug suspects in Region 9 on the same day, including an alleged big-time drug personality who was killed in a shootout with law enforcement authorities. (Photo courtesy of PDEA-9)
ZAMBOANGA CITY -- An alleged big-time drug personality was killed while two others were arrested and some PHP20.4 million worth of illegal drugs seized in separate law enforcement operations in the region, officials said Friday.
Brig. Gen. Jesus Cambay Jr., Police Regional Office-9 (PRO-9) director, identified the "big-time drug personality" as Mansor Mangoda of Margosatubig town, Zamboanga del Sur, who was killed in a shootout during a buy-bust operation around 4:20 p.m. Thursday in the same municipality.
Cambay said the shootout ensued when Mangoda pulled a handgun and opened fire but missed, and was shot by the police who returned fire.
Mangoda was rushed to the Margosatubig Regional Hospital but was declared dead on arrival by the attending physician, the police official said.
Cambay said the suspect yielded around three kilograms of suspected shabu worth PHP20.4 million, and a .45 caliber pistol.
Meanwhile, officials identified the two other arrested suspects as Moner Isnani, 27, and Arnold Ferrer, 47.
Cambay said Isnani was arrested in possession of some PHP1,000 worth of suspected shabu and PHP500 marked money in a buy-bust operation around 8:45 p.m. Thursday in Talusan town, Zamboanga Sibugay.
Emerson Margate, Philippine Drug Enforcement Agency (PDEA) regional director, said Ferrer--a target-listed drug personality--was arrested in a buy-bust operation around 12:30 p.m. Thursday in Ipil, Zamboanga Sibugay.
Margate said Ferrer yielded some PHP20,400 worth of suspected shabu, PHP340 cash, and other pieces of evidence.
Margate recalled that Ferrer's son was also arrested earlier this year for possession of illegal drugs.
Cases in violation of Republic Act 9165 otherwise known as the Comprehensive Dangerous Drugs Act of 2002 will be filed against the arrested suspects, officials said. (PNA)
