ZAMBOANGA CITY, Philippines — A top military official said Thursday that two soldiers were slain and three suspects were captured while police dismantled a drug den in two separate anti-drug operations in the province of Basilan.
Brig. Gen. Domingo Gobway, head of the Joint Task Force (JTF)-Basilan, said the two soldiers were slain in an operation against Amiri Sarri, a known drug suspect, at 3 a.m. Thursday in Isabela City, Basilan’s capital.
According to Gobway, operatives from the Philippine Drug Enforcement Agency (PDEA) were ready to serve the arrest warrant on Sarri when he and his associates opened fire, killing two soldiers.
Gobway did not name the soldiers until their next of kin were notified. He stated that the casualties were members of the Army’s 4th Special Forces Battalion, which is stationed in Isabela City. “The suspects fled and escaped capture,” Gobway said.
Meanwhile, Gobway reported that drug suspects Jomar Pantaleon, Wilhelm Manlangit, and Jol Hasim were apprehended in a separate anti-drug operation that resulted in the dismantling of a drug den around 8 p.m. Wednesday in Lamitan City, Basilan.
He stated that a united team of PDEA agents, soldiers, and police officers confiscated approximately 15 grams of suspected shabu worth PHP102,000, other illegal drug accessories, PHP1,000 marked money, an Android phone, and an identification card from the drug den.
Source: PNA