Army troopers kill big time drug pusher, capture 8 more in Basilan

ZAMBOANGA CITY- - Government operatives have killed in a shootout a suspected big time drug pusher and captured eight others in Basilan province, a military official announced Friday.Maj. Felimon Tan, Western Mindanao Command (Westmincom) information officer, identified the slain drug pusher as Abubakar Mohammad alias Abubakar Adali Asa of Maluso, Basilan.Tan did not release the identities of the eight people captured during the shootout.Tan disclosed the shootout broke out around 5:45 a.m. Saturday when the operatives carried out a buy-bust operation in an alleged drug den in Sitio Canas, Barangay Calangcanas, Maluso town.Tan said government operatives have seized two M-16 Armalite rifles, one M-203 grenade launcher, a calibre .22 pistol, one rifle grenade, several rounds of ammunition, methamphetamine hydrochloride locally known as shabu, and other prohibited drug paraphernalia.The captured suspects were turned over to the custody of the police for the filing of appropriate charges against them.Tan said the buy-bust operation was carried out by combined operatives of the Philippine Drug Enforcement Agency, Marine Battalion Landing Team-11, 4th Special Forces Battalion, and Maluso police station.Tan said the AFP continues to assist law enforcement agencies to deter illegal activities in Basilan province. (PNA)LGI/TPGJR