Injured	Killed
0	2

Date: 25 July 2013
Source: http://www.journal.com.ph/index.php/news/provincial/55105-2-drug-dealers-killed-in-shootout

AGENTS of the Philippine Drug Enforcement Agency and Army soldiers shot dead two heavily-armed notorious drug traffickers in a buy-bust operation in North Cotabato that ended up in a shootout last Thursday, a report to PDEA chair Undersecretary Arturo G. Cacdac Jr. said yesterday.

Slain in the gunbattle were Raymund Timan, alias “Menu,” included in the watch list of the Philippine National Police in Pikit, North Cotabato, and Titin Alba, alias “Teo.” Both are believed to be involved in drug trafficking and gun-for-hire activities, the PDEA reported.

Combined operatives of the PDEA Autonomous Region in Muslim Mindanao regional office under Director Yogi Felimon Ruiz and soldiers from the Army’s 7th Infantry Battalion, in coordination with the PDEA Regional Office 12, conducted the operation in Bgy. Batulawa, Pikit, past 6 a.m. last Thursday.

The PDEA report said that Timan pulled out a caliber .38 revolver and a fragmentation grenade after he sensed the entrapment operation, prompting the anti-narcotics officers to shoot him.

Alba was killed when he opened fire at the back-up team. Both died while being taken to a local hospital.

Recovered from Timan’s possession were three plastic sachets of shabu, a loaded call. .38 caliber, a 9mm  semi-automatic pistol, an M-16 rifle with 13 pieces of magazine assembly, one KG 9mm sub-machine gun and three fragmentation grenades.

Confiscated from Alba were five sachets of shabu, one loaded cal. .45 pistol and assorted drug paraphernalia.

Both suspects were immediately brought to the Cruzado Medical Hospital in Pikit, North Cotabato, but were pronounced dead on arrival.

“These hostile operational conditions demonstrate the inherent risks that our drug law enforcers face every day. We are very fortunate that there were no casualties on our side even though the suspects were heavily armed and dangerous,” Cacdac said as he commended the operating teams for their bravery and for risking their lives to weed out illegal drugs.