5 suspects dead in Bohol drug raid

CEBU, Philippines - Five suspected drug personalities were killed while three others were arrested after they allegedly shot it out with policemen past 8 a.m. yesterday in Barangay Cawayan, Inabanga town in Bohol.

Police said David Anunciado, Leonides Inoc, Alipio Anuta, Milkins Ohina, and Pio Justol, were killed after they engaged in a gunfight with them; while Rene Peticio, Daria Nuñes, and Justino Vistal were arrested.

Inabanga police chief Senior Inspector Rolando Antipolo said the joint operation of the Regional Special Operations Group 7, the Regional Public Safety Battalion 7 and the Inabanga Police Station was meant to serve two search warrants; one for Anunciado and the other for a certain Edwin Estoce.

Policemen tried to conceal themselves by riding a dump truck to Anunciado's house, but Justol allegedly noticed them and fired a shot before running towards his house where Anunciado and the rest of the group were. Antipolo said Justol's house was also being used as a drug den by the group.  

After hearing gunshots, policemen tried to follow Justol into the house but were fired upon by the suspects, prompting them to return fire. After the firefight was over five of the suspects lay dead of gunshot wounds while the other three suspects were unhurt.

The police recovered an M16 rifle, a KG-9 submachine pistol, a shotgun, a .22 cal. rifle, and two hand grenades inside Justol's house. They also found 42 medium packs locally known as "bulto" and five small packs of suspected shabu, and P51,380 cash.

After the encounter, the police served the search warrant at Anunciado's house and confiscated another eight medium packs of suspected shabu and another grenade.

Antipolo said he enlisted the help of the regional policemen in arresting and neutralizing Anunciado since he is a big-time drug pusher operating in Inabanga and neighboring towns.

"Sa akong nahibaw-an sir, mora'g mo-supply sa silinganan nga lungsod, moabot pa sa Carmen,  Loboc, Clarin ug San Miguel. Usa sa mga noted nga tawo sa probinsya, ang kani usa sa hardcore diri," Antipolo said.

The operation was led by Superintendent George Ylanan, chief of RSOG-7.— (FREEMAN)