An alleged drug den maintainer was killed while two others were nabbed after a gun battle with authorities during a buy-bust operation in Buluan, Maguindanao del Sur, the Philippine Drug Enforcement Agency (PDEA) said.
In a statement, the PDEA said that alias "Dats", the alleged drug den maintainer, was killed in a clash that erupted when he and his men tried to fight it out with the agents on Feb. 21.
PDEA Regional Director Gil Cesario P. Castro said that the suspects with aliases "Memo" and "King"were arrested but another cohort identified as alias "Rolan" was able to flee.
He stated that ‘Rolan’ first fired at the approaching operatives after sensing their presence prompting ‘Dats’ to join the fray and also returned fire during the Purok 3, Barangay Upper Siling Feb. 20 firefight.
The PDEA agents discovered 15 grams of shabu worth P102,000 concealed in 25 heat-sealed plastic sachets, various drug paraphernalia, a black motorcycle, one 9mm submachine gun and seven rounds of ammunition.
The suspects face charges for violation of Republic Act (RA) 9165.