2 drug suspects killed in shootout with cops in North Cotabato

By Noel Punzalan 

KABACAN, North Cotabato -- Two members of a drug syndicate were killed when they engaged law enforcers in a shootout here, a police official said Saturday.

Chief Inspector Aldrin Gonzales, speaking for the police in Region 12, said the North Cotabato police, backed by the Army’s 7th Infantry Battalion, were to serve search warrants against Kobe Abdul Kaludin, Dorex Abdul Kaludin, Boy Talipasan Usman, Randy Abdul Kaludin, Kamad Mohammad Maambig, all of Sitio Lote, Barangay Kayaga, Kabacan, North Cotabato, when the firefight erupted.

Gonzales said law enforcers were approaching the village on Thursday dawn when met by gunfire from the suspects, believed to be members of an organized drug syndicate operating in the province.

The brief firefight led to the death of Kobe Abdul Kaludin and Dorex Abdul Kaludin. Police recovered a cal. 38 revolver and a cal. 45 pistol from the slain wanted persons.

A further search was conducted in the victims’ homes where police found a hand grenade, ammunition and an unlicensed motorbike.

The implementation of search warrants was witnessed by village officials. (PNA)