2 die in South Cotabato police anti-drug operation

KORONADAL CITY (Sept. 6/NDBC) -- Police killed two suspected drug pushers who resisted arrest and traded shots with arresting police officers during anti-illegal drugs operation in Norallah, South CotabatoFriday, police said today.Another was arrested while six other suspected drug pushers managed to escape during the police-led anti-drug campaign.Sr. Inspector Dennis Madriaga, Norallah police chief,identified the fatalities as Eduardo Julius Brana alias Kokong of Barangay Poblacion, Norala and Sadina Cabel alias Mike, a resident of Purok Krislam, Barangay Simsiman, also of Norallah.Both Brana and Cabel were declared dead on arrival at a local hospital due to multiple gunshot wounds. Our police have no recourse but to fire back after the subject of apprehension opened fire on lawmen who were to serve warrants of arrest for Cabel, Madriaga told DXOM-Radyo Bida Koronadal. They resisted and fired at our personnel,our policemen had no choice but to return fire to defend themselves,” Madriaga said of the legitimate operation.Madriaga said after the first shot was fired by the suspects,six of their companionsfled by running toward Tacurong and Isulan. Fortunately, no police personnel were injured during the heavy firefight, Madriaga said.Madriaga said the operation was jointly carried out by Norallah PNP, Regional Special Intelligence Division Team, Regional Public Safety Battalion and Criminal Investigation and Detection Group. Seized from the suspects' safehouse, the house of Cabel,were five heat-sealed sachet of methamphetamine hydrocholide, locally known as shabu and bato, two cal. 38 revolvers, a 357 magnum pistol, weighing scale, four motorcycles and other drug paraphernalia.Madriaga saidDennis Bandi-anon alias Jun was arrested after he yielded three sachets of shabu. He added that the suspects were unaware of the police operation. Theywere caught in the act of repacking (the suspected drugs), we are thankful the regional police headquarters noticed the drug problem here, Madriga said.