TACLOBAN CITY, Philippines — A barangay chairman of Asog in Caibiran town of Biliran and his nephew, who was a barangay councilman of Langgao in Cabucgayan town also of Biliran, were the latest casualties in the war against illegal drugs.
Police reported that village chief Reynold Quinones, 43, and Councilman Roel Baras, 37, engaged operatives of the Police Regional Office-8’s Anti-illegal Drugs Task Force in a shootout, during a buy-bust operation at Barangay Kawayan in Leyte town of Leyte province.
Inspector Constantino Pedrosa, police chief of Leyte town, said the two suspects, who were riding-in-tandem during the firefight, were declared dead on the spot due to fatal bullet wounds from the policemen.
Pedrosa said the operatives recovered from the bodies of Quinones and Baras two sachets of shabu and two revolvers, a .45-caliber and a .38-caliber.
Superintendent Carlito Gallardo, officer-in-charge of the Biliran Police Provincial Office, told The Freeman in a phone interview that Quinones was among of five barangay chairmen in Caibiran town placed in the police drug watchlist, and that they earlier underwent a “Tokhang” conducted by anti-drug operatives.
Police record revealed that Quinones and Baras were the 32nd drug personalities killed in drug operations all over Eastern Visayas, while 24,000 pushers and users have earlier surrendered.
Eileen, widow of Quinones, however, belied police claims that her husband was involved in the illegal drug trade.
Meanwhile, a couple of weeks ago, Chief Inspector Jesus Son, while driving his Innova vehicle, was ambushed and killed at Barangay Pilit in Sta. Fe town of Leyte. This killing had remained unsolved to this day, and may be classified as another extra-judicial killing. (BANAT NEWS)