A TOWN councilor from Maguindanao was killed when he fought it out with operatives of the Philippine Drug Enforcement and other law enforcers during a buy-bust operation on Sunday afternoon.
Slain was Jaymar Nandang, a councilor of Northern Kabuntalan town, who was described by the PDEA as a “high-value target” in the government’s campaign against illegal drugs.
PDEA men, augmented by Marines and Maguindanao cops, tried to arrest Nandang after he sold 20 grams of suspected shabu, worth P136,000, to a poseur-buyer at the vicinity of Purveyor Subdivision in Barangay Rosary Heights XI in Cotabato City at around 1:40 p.m.
However, Nandang opened fire at the lawmen, who retaliated, hitting him. Nandang was rushed to a nearby hospital but was declared dead on arrival.
Apart from the shabu, also seized from Nandang’s possession were the buy-bust money, a loaded cal. 45 pistol, a wallet containing two identification cards, and a cell phone allegedly used by Nandang in drug transactions.
The PDEA-Bangsamoro Autonomous Region Muslim Mindanao indicated some politicians were linked to the illegal activities of Nandang.
Seven individuals were arrested in anti-drug operations in Pasig and Mandaluyong, with P419,900 worth of suspected shabu seized.
Brig. Gen Johnson Almazan, Eastern Police District director, identified the seven as Willy Mateo, 28; Eleuterio Cantero, 60; Roderick Arellano, 39; Mark John Dela Cruz 24; Mary Rose Abelar, 19; Jonathan Bawaan, 32; and Ivan Bulayog, 32. — With Christian Oineza
