Drug lord slain in Leyte jail raid

TACLOBAN CITY, Philippines – A suspected drug lord was killed during a raid on the Baybay City jail on Friday.

Ferdinand Balagtis, reportedly a member of the Kerwin Espinosa drug ring, allegedly shot it out with police operatives serving a warrant to search his detention cell.

Senior Superintendent Efren Nemenio, Bureau of Jail Management and Penology regional director, ordered the relief of Senior Jail Police Officer 4 Jimmy Topia and his entire staff yesterday pending the result of the investigation into the incident.

“This is a big blow to the bureau. I have to relieve them while the investigation is ongoing.  How did the firearm and illegal drugs enter the prison?” Nemenio asked.

Balagtis allegedly yielded a .45-caliber pistol  and seven sachets of shabu.

“This is for the administrative proceedings. It could result in the jail officers’ dismissal from the service considering that it involves illegal drugs,” Nemenio said.

Balagtis was arrested in a sting in July, but reportedly continued his illegal activities.

3 more slain

Meanwhile, three have been added to the list of slain drug suspects.

Potifar Canonigo, 56, councilman of Barangay Bayugan 3 in Rosaro, Agusan del Sur, reportedly shot it out with police operatives during a raid on his house on Friday. Canonigo was on the town’s drug watchlist, police said.

Edwin Sinoy, 37, fired at policemen serving a search warrant in Barangay Uno, Nasipit, Agusan del Norte also on Friday.

The fatality yielded 15 grams of shabu with an estimated street value of P178,000 as well as two guns and ammunition.

Businessman Cristopher Caogas, 41, a resident of Barangay Nancayasan in Urdaneta City, Pangasinan was gunned down by motorcycle-riding men wearing bonnets. Police said Caogas was on their drug watchlist.

SUV owner

Meanwhile, authorities traced the owner of the Toyota Hilux (ABB-3553) parked in the compound of a shabu laboratory found in Cauayan City, Isabela last week.

John Awie Lantian Tan, a resident of Barangay Victory Sur in Santiago City, reportedly owned the vehicle, said Superintendent Ariel Quilang, Cauayan police chief.

Derrick Carreon, director for information of the Philippine Drug Enforcement Agency, said they are determining the culpability of the owner of the vehicle.

Police said the bodies of Jixin Li Huang and Cangbo Sheng, who died in the firefight with police operatives during the raid, remain unclaimed at a mortuary.

More nabbed

In Quirino, Eric Espinosa, the alleged leader of a drug ring in Bulacan who escaped during a police operation that killed three of his men last month, was arrested in Barangay Lusod in Maddela town on Friday.  

Chief Inspector Godofredo Wasin, Maddela police chief, said Espinosa’s arrest was based on three warrants for child abuse issued by Bulacan courts.?

In Surigao del Norte, Flordelito Quiban, 43, a barangay councilman of Sto. Niño, was arrested in a sting on Friday. Six others were collared in Purok 10, Barangay Tambak in Butuan City. – With Ben Serrano, Eva Visperas, Raymund Catindig, Ric Sapnu