- Advertisement -

By JOEY NACALABAN
and NITZ ARANCON
Correspondents .

POLICE shot and killed a man wanted for murder in what authorities said was an undercover anti-illegal drug operation at Zone 5, Karisna Karinugan, Barangay Balulang here on Wednesday afternoon. The dead man was the second drug suspect killed in the city in less than a week.

- Advertisement -

The shooting death of Abdul Wahab a.k.a. Willy came barely a week after the same group of police officers shot and killed 25-year-old Rotsen Cubar a.k.a. Bunso on Seriña Street in Barangay Carmen here shortly before midnight Friday.

Wahab’s shooting death came a day after 40-year-old Bayani Abasolo was killed by police officers at Zone 5, Baluarte, Tagoloan town in Misamis Oriental.

The circumstances had striking similarities. Like Wahab, Abasolo was allegedly armed with a gun and a grenade, and was shot and killed allegedly while he was about to pull off the grenade pin.

Senior Supt. Nelson Aganon quickly condoled with the family of the 44-year-old Wahab, a Maranao, but explained that the suspect was killed because he allegedly put up a fight while undercover policemen were about to arrest him.

Witnesses however rejected the police version of what took place, asserting that there was no buy-and-bust operation.

Speaking on condition of anonymity because they feared for their lives, witnesses said Wahab was sleeping at the sala when police barged into the house through the main door.

One of the witnesses, a relative of Wahab’s, said the police then asked other people inside the house to get out and leave them and Wahab inside.

From outside the house, the witnesses said, they heard a series of gunshots.

But Supt. Mardy Hortillosa, Cagayan de Oro City Police Office spokesperson, maintained that Wahab was killed in a legitimate buy-and-bust operation by the local police’s City Drug Enforcement Unit, City Intelligence Branch, and Drug Enforcement Group.

Police alleged that Wahab sold a sachet of suspected shabu to an undecover agent, and that he tried to fight back with a grenade after he sensed he just made a deal with a police officer.

Hortillosa said Wahab drew a caliber .38 revolver and fired shots at the police before running inside the house apparently to get a grenade.

“Didto sulod sa balay nakita sa among police nga nagkuha og granada si Wahab ug gaibton na niya ang pin. Mao tong giunhan na siya sa police para ma kontrolar siya,” Hortillosa said.

He said the police then called city hall’s Emergency Medical Specialists in the hope of saving Wahab’s life.

The victim died of multiple gunshots wounds all over. He was killed on the spot.

The police’s Scene of the Crime Operatives found a grenade, three empty 9mm cartridges, a loaded caliber .38 revolver, two sachets of suspected shabu, two P500 bills that served as marked money, six P100 bills and another six P50 bills.

Horitillosa said Wahab was known to have sold illegal drugs in different places in the city.

Senior Supt. Aganon confirmed that Wahab had been ordered arrested for murder by a regional court.

Aganon said Wahab was also suspected to be behind the shooting death of a Roads and Traffic Administration (RTA) worker, and the attack on narcotics agents during a similar undercover operation in Barangay 31 a few years ago.

Aganon said, “Cocpo expresses sympathies to the bereaved family, and we  hope that they  will understand that we are just doing our job to protect the people of the city.”

He said the police officers did not want to use force but they had to because Wahab endangered their lives.

Hortillosa said Cocpo personnel are strictly following operational procedures, and are always reminded to respect human rights.

“Our unit will always ensure the safety of a suspect during police operations, including drug operations. But we also need to ensure the security and safety of our operating personnel,” he said.

Disclaimer

Mindanao Gold Star Daily holds the copyrights of all articles and photos in perpetuity. Any unauthorized reproduction in any platform, electronic and hardcopy, shall be liable for copyright infringement under the Intellectual Property Rights Law of the Philippines.

- Advertisement -