SAF trooper, drug suspect killed in Sulu raid

ZAMBOANGA CITY, Philippines — A police Special Action Force trooper and a notorious drug pusher were killed while two suspects were arrested during an ‘Oplan Double Barrel’ anti-drug operation in Patikul town, Sulu on Sunday.

 

PO2 Tirso Mantalaba of the 24th Special Action Company based in Jolo town was killed in the operation when one of the suspects fired on the arresting team, Supt. Rey Ariño, 5th SAF Battalion commander, said.

 

Ariño said the suspect, identified as Anudin Akiran Daharani, was also killed in the ensuing shootout.

 

The two other arrested suspects were not immediately identified.

 

The SAF and Army soldiers recovered an M1 Garand rifle, a cal.45 pistol, six heat-sealed plastic sachets with suspected shabu, 10 magazines for .30 caliber with 31 rounds of ammunition, a plastic bag of aluminum foil, 300 heat-sealed plastic sachets, and money amounting to P4,488.

 

He said SAF troops, backed by the Joint Task Force Sulu troops, conducted the Oplan Double Barrel against drug pushers to arrest Daharani at sitio Bullo, Barangay Kaunayan before noon on Sunday.

 

However, the suspect, who sensed the presence of the SAF troopers, fired at them and hit Mantalaba. Mantalaba was rushed to the hospital for treatment but died.

 

Mantalaba’s remains were flown to Zamboanga City on Monday was were given funeral honors.

 

Ariño said they were investigating the possible link of the suspects to the Abu Sayyaf group.

 

The police and military forces intensified the Oplan Double Barrel with reports that the Abu Sayyaf members were also engaged in the use of shabu.