ZAMBOANGA CITY, Philippines — Four drug suspects and a police Special Action Force (SAF) commando were killed while two other anti-drug operatives were wounded in a shootout during a sting in Bongao, Tawi-Tawi yesterday.
The slain SAF commando was identified as S/Sgt. John Ventura.
The slain drug suspects were led by a certain Ibno Suhud Jaani.
Wounded were S/Sgts. Liberato Antang and Feler Perito as well as Cpl. Diomar Tibor, also SAF commandos.
Authorities said the fatalities yielded 50 grams of shabu with an estimated street value of P340,000.
Jacquelyn de Guzman, Philippine Drug Enforcement Agency-Zamboanga peninsula director, said PDEA agents, SAF commandos and Marines conducted the operation in Barangay Luuk Pandan at around 3:30 a.m.
Meanwhile, in Bulacan, police said Teddy Rodriguez and Mark Lester Manalang were killed in drug busts in Barangay Banga First, Plaridel and Maasim, San Ildefonso, respectively, also yesterday. – Emmanuel Tupas, Ramon Efren Lazaro