Injured	Killed
0	1

Date: 30 November 2013
Source: Journal Online

Pangasinan in a shootout   and arrested his cohort during a sting that also led to the recovery of more than P1 million worth of high-grade shabu, PDEA chair Undersecretary Arturo Cacdac Jr. said yesterday.

The anti-narcotics operation in Poblacion West, Asingan town turned-bloody when suspect Elias Sultan alias “Kadi” fired shots at the PDEA agents and their back-up from the local police and later hurled a grenade at the officers prompting the law enforcers to return fire.

The suspect was taken to the nearby Asingan Community Hospital where he died while undergoing treatment.

A cohort of the suspect identified as Benito Monses, a resident  of Poblacion East, Asingan was arrested shortly after the exchange of gunfire.  Monses is facing life term in prison for violation of Republic Act 9165 or the Comprehensive Dangerous Drugs Act of 2002. The offense also carries a fine of P500,000 to as much as P10 million. 

According to PDEA Regional Office 1 chief Director Adrian Alvarino, the two motorcycle-riding suspects were making the drug deal with the undercover officer when Sultan drew his concealed Cal.  .45 pistol after the poseur announced that he was a PDEA agent.

The two then tried to escape prompting the poseur to warn his fellow officers posted near the scene. Sultan, according to the officers, lobbed a grenade at them while running towards a thickly-vegetated areas. 

When the grenade failed to explode, the PDEA agents and members of the Asingan Municipal Police Station combed the area where they later encountered the suspect who managed to reload his pistol. 

The operation led in the recovery of eight large plastic sachets containing shabu valued at P1.05 million and the two motorcycles used by the suspects. Officers also found the slain suspect’s  Cal. .45 pistol and the unexploded fragmentation grenade.

Cacdac lauded his men for the operation and said he was glad that no law enforcer was hurt during the operation.