By Nanette Guadalquiver
BACOLOD CITY – An armed encounter during the service of warrants of arrest led to the death of three suspects in Escalante City, Negros Occidental, on Wednesday, the Philippine Drug Enforcement Agency-Negros Island Region (PDEA-NIR) confirmed Thursday.
The fatalities were identified as alias Joseph, who had three warrants of arrest; alias Piolo, of Purok Acacia, Barangay Malasibog; and alias Roy, of Purok Mahogany, Barangay Jonobjonob.
“During the service of the warrants of arrest, the operating units encountered armed resistance from the suspects, which resulted in an armed confrontation,” the PDEA-NIR report said.
The joint law enforcement operation led by the PDEA-NIR Negros Occidental Provincial Office took place at 2 p.m. on Thursday in Barangay Jonobjonob.
Operatives recovered 13 heat-sealed plastic sachets of shabu weighing about 13 grams valued at PHP88,400 as well as cash amounting to PHP10,000, believed to be proceeds from illegal drug activities.
They also found firearms and ammunition, including one M16A1 rifle with a magazine, two caliber .45 pistols with two magazines and four live ammunition, two shells of caliber .45 bullets, 23 live ammunition of 5.56mm, and three fired cartridges of 5.56mm.
“Appropriate documentation and inventory of the seized items were conducted at the scene in the presence of required witnesses. All recovered evidence was turned over to the proper authorities for laboratory examination and proper disposition,” the PDEA-NIR report said. (PNA)
