2 tagged in informant's slay shot dead

MANILA, Philippines - Two suspected drug peddlers who were allegedly behind the killing of a police asset last Monday were slain in an encounter with anti-narcotics agents of the Quezon City Police District (QCPD) on Thursday afternoon.

Police said suspects Asmah Sadang, 33, and Gilbert Ilagan, 31, were slain after they allegedly shot at operatives of the QCPD’s District Anti-Illegal Drugs Special Operations Task Group at around 5 p.m. Thursday at the Pandac Compound in Barangay Holy Spirit.

QCPD director Chief Superintendent Elmo San Diego said the area has been under surveillance over reports of drug peddling there. It was also the area where police asset Wency Casino was killed by seven men with whom he was supposed to be transacting for a “test-buy” preceding a supposed drug bust.

As QCPD operatives were conducting surveillance in the area Thursday afternoon, another informant, who was with Casino at the time of his killing, spotted the two suspects, said Superintendent Lino Banaag, head of the QCPD’S Criminal Investigation and Detection Unit.

However, as policemen were approaching the two suspects, the latter opened fire, forcing cops to retaliate. Found in the slain suspects’ possession were two .38 caliber revolvers and a hand grenade. Policemen also recovered two sachets of shabu from the suspects. – Reinir Padua