Zambo cops recover 'shabu' sachet, guns after shootout with drug suspects

ZAMBOANGA CITY, Philippines -- Two suspected drug pushers were killed in a shootout during an anti-drug operation in a village here at dawn on Thursday.

Chief Superintendent Miguel Antonio Jr., Western Mindanao police director, identified the slain suspects as Omar Salim and a certain Henry alias Kalbo.

Police said the two suspects were killed in a shootout against the Station 2 police team led by Police Chief Inspector Ramon Isidro Bautista Jr. in Sitio Buntod, Barangay Buenavista on the east coast of the city.

Antonio said police received tips from a confidential agent that a drug deal was about to happen at Sitio Buntod. The local police immediately set up its team and launched the operation.

Bautista's team initially caught up with two unidentified males who fired at the approaching police and ran away. Antonio said police gave chase and caught up with the suspects, triggering a shootout.

Police recovered a loaded cal-.45 pistol and a grenade from Salim and another cal.-45 pistol and a loaded shotgun from "Henry".

The police also recovered a sachet of suspected shabu and P300 pesos used in a test buy from "Henry".

The remains of the victims were brought to the community hospital for post-mortem examination.

Local governments have been stepping up operations against suspected drug dealers in recent weeks, with Cebu City mayor-elect Tomas Osmeña offering and paying rewards to police officers who kill drug suspects and Tanauan, Batangas Mayor Antonio Halili parading suspected dealers in a shame campaign.

Davao City Mayor Rodrigo Duterte, president-elect once proclaimed by Congress, has promised to crack down on drugs, which, he repeatedly said in campaign rallies, he hates.