Drug suspect killed, 2 drug suspects arrested, grenade found in S. Cotabato

KORONADAL CITY -- A suspected illegal drug pusher was executed by still unidentified men while two others, believed to be pusher and user of prohibited drugs, were arrested in two towns in South Cotabato while a hand grenade was recovered here as police intensified drive against illegal drugs, police said today. A lived hand grenade was found by residents in a pig pen in Purok Megaland, Barangay Carpenter Hill, Koronadal City Friday morning. Supt. Barney Condes, Koronadal City chief, said the police office received a call from a certain Julius Salazar reporting about a grenade found by Liza Larcena at about 4 p.m. After finding the grenade, she rushed to neighbors and reported her discovery. Responding police bomb experts found and safely recovered an M-67 fragmentation grenade. In Banga town, an adjacent farming community after Koronadal City, police arrested a man who was in possession of an unlicensed cal. 45 pistol with ammunition. According to Senior Insp. Timothy Arsiso, chief of provincial Criminal Investigation and Detection Group (CIDG), Talio de Juan, 37, a resident of Barangay Malaya, Banga town was arrested by virtue of a search warrant issued by Judge Oscar Noel of Polomolok, South Cotabato. De Juan was a caretaker of a cock farm in Barangay Malaya but police believed some of the fighting cocks were stolen. Suspected shabu was also recovered from De Juan who did not resist arrest. In Surallah, also in South Cotabato, the No. 5 most wanted man involved in illegal drug was arrested by police at 4:30 a.m. Friday in Barangay Libertad. sand//scontent.fceb2-2.fna.fbcdn.net/v/l/t1.0-9/13770469_1009914799115329_2437555771002394568_n.jpg?oh=dee34d5c112022a06f47da8a4911ed39andampoe=5832DCB8 (Ariel Gaylan, (seated right)illegal drug and gun suspect)Chief Inspector Joel M. Fuerte, Surallah town police chief, identified the suspect as Ariel Landar Gaylan Jr, 37 and resident of Barangay Libertad. Police found three sachet of suspected shabu from Gaylan's house, including empty sachets, a long barrel 12 gauge shot gun, ammunition and a bladed weapon. Fuerte said Gaylan has been under surveillance after residents pointed him as illegal drug pusher. Gaylan faces charges for violation of Republic Act 9165 o Dangerous Drugs Act of 2002 and Republic Act 10591 or the Comprehensive Law on Firearms and Ammunition. Also in Surallah, a man was killed and dumped along a dirt road in Barangay Centrala and his remains were found at about 7 a.m. Fuerte said Eduardo Redocto of Kiamba, Saranggani has gunshot wounds in the head and body. Police investigation showed that Redocto was executed and dumped by still unidentified gunmen. Data retrieved from Redocto's mobile phone showed he was pushing illegal drugs.