A watch-listed drug suspect was killed during a buy-bust operation in South Ubian, Tawi-Tawi, which also resulted to the confiscation of a stash of "shabu" worth nearly P370,000.
Slain during the operation was Winnie Basanon, whose name appeared on the police drug watch list. His cohort was identified as Amor Sayuman. Both are residents of South Ubian Municipality in Tawi-Tawi.
The combined elements of the Philippine Drug Enforcement Agency (PDEA), Tawi-Tawi Provincial Office, Marine Battalion Landing Team 6, Philippine Navy, and South Ubian Municipal Police Station carried out the buy-bust last January 30 at Barangay Bitawlan, South Ubian.
The report said the suspects agreed to sell shabu (methamphetamine hydrochloride) to a PDEA agent, who posed as a buyer.
During the course of the transaction, the suspects sensed that they were dealing with an undercover agent, thus triggering a brief shoot-out.
Basanon was killed in the exchange of fire, while Sayuman managed to elude arrest.
Confiscated during the operation were six pieces of heat-sealed transparent plastic sachets containing shabu and seven pieces plastic straw containing suspected shabu.
The illegal drug weighed 55 grams and was thought to have an estimated value of P374,000. A .45 colt handgun and an M14 rifle were also recovered from the scene.
Sayuman is facing violations of of Republic Act (RA) 9165 and RA 10591.