Moalboal’s top drug suspect killed in police shootout

CEBU, Philippines — A suspected high-value drug target (HVT) was killed in a shootout with the police in Barangay Basdiot, Moalboal town, southern Cebu last Friday afternoon.

Ricky Sadagnot, 38, a resident of the town’s Barangay Saavedra, succumbed to two gunshot wounds to his chest. He was rushed to the hospital but did not make it there alive.

Sadagnot allegedly opened fire first at the operatives serving an arrest warrant against him, prompting them to retaliate.

“Nidiritso og pusil ang suspek maong among gibawsan. Nibuhi man sad daw ni siya og estorya nga dili padakop og buhi sa police," said Chief Inspector Jose Rovic Villarin, Moalboal Police chief.

Sadagnot had a pending warrant of arrest for illegal drugs after he eluded arrest during a buy-bust operation last year. He was reportedly a remnant of Christian Aquino, another high-value target in the provincial level.

Sadagnot allegedly took over Aquino’s illegal drug business after the latter’s death in May last year.  Aquino was shot dead by the police after he allegedly resisted arrest in a buy-bust operation in Mandaue City.

Aquino surrendered to the Moalboal police in October 2016 at the height of the government’s intensified anti-drug campaign dubbed as Oplan Tokhang. According to police, Aquino expanded his distribution of illegal drugs to regional level from a provincial level.

Sadagnot was known as a notorious drug pusher and considered as the town’s number one most wanted personality, said Villarin.

The police chief said Sadagnot was reportedly convicted of illegal drugs but was able to post bail.

"Noted na gyod ni siya nga mamaligyaay diri sa area, kadaghan na sad na siya nato gi-test buy og positive gyod," he said.

Police Senior Inspector Nazareno Emia, deputy chief of the Provincial Intelligence Branch (PIB), also said Sadagnot was placed under surveillance for quite some time but “he was very elusive.”

Councilman’s brod arrested

In a separate development, the brother of incumbent Calamba, Cebu City barangay councilman was arrested Thursday by the operatives of the City Intelligence Branch (CIB).

The operation that led to the arrest of Nerio “Badodo” Ygonia, 40, was part of the Philippine National Police's intensified operation against all forms of illegal activities.

Two large packs of shabu worth P118,000 were reportedly recovered from Ygonia.

Police Chief Inspector Christopher Navida, CIB chief, said Ygonia was already jailed in 2016 for illegal drugs but was out on bail.

Ygonia is now temporarily detained at the Cebu City Police Office detention facility pending the filing of charges against him. (FREEMAN)