Iloilo's most wanted drug kingpin killed in shootout

MANILA, Philippines — Iloilo's most notorious and most wanted drug lord was killed on Friday night after a firefight ensued while the police attempted to serve a warrant of arrest. 

Richard Prevendido, also known as "Buang," died on the spot from bullet wounds sustained in a shootout with combined personnel of the Philippine National Police Regional Intelligence Division 6, the Iloilo Provincial Police Office and the Iloilo City Police Office.

Lawmen were to serve a warrant of arrest for alleged violation of provisions of Republic Act 9165 or the Comprehensive Dangerous Drugs Act of 2002.

Based on reports, the authorities were forced to neutralize Prevendido when the suspect pulled a gun and fired shots. Also killed was the suspect's nephew, Jason Prevendido.

The incident happened in Landheights Subdivision in Barangay Balabago, Jaro in Iloilo on Friday night.

The police recovered from the scene an AK-45 assault rifle, two caliber .45 guns, bladed weapons and sachets of suspected shabu.

Prevendido is allegedly the top drug lord in Western Visayas.

The killing happened days after President Rodrigo Duterte announced the reassignment of Chief Inspector Jovie Espenido as officer-in-charge of Iloilo City Police Office.

On Saturday, the PNP Regional Office 6 announced that Espenido's reassignment has been cancelled. 

Espenido was the chief of police of Albuera, Leyte when Mayor Rolando Espinosa Sr. was killed by Criminal Investigation and Detection Group personnel inside his cell at the Baybay sub-provincial jail in November last year. 

He was also the head of Ozamis City police station when Mayor Reynaldo Parojinog was shot dead in a raid on the Parojinog family compound in August.