Cops nab gunmen who opened fire at PDEA CDO office

Police arrested two men suspected of shooting up the Philippine Drug Enforcement Agency office in Cagayan de Oro City, the PDEA said on Wednesday.

PDEA Director General Arturo Cacdac, Jr. said Cagayan de Oro police nabbed Achmad Sangcaan of Barrio Green, Marawi City and Mark Bryan Basco of San Jorge Street, Barangay Perfecto, San Juan City, for shooting the Misamis Oriental Provincial Special Enforcement Team (PSET) office.

Cacdac said Sangcaan and Basco opened fire at the PDEA PSET office located at the GA Pelaez Sports Complex, Cagayan de Oro City last Nov. 13 around 1:15 a.m.

The two then sped off onboard Mitsubishi Montero sport utility vehicle.

They returned to the vicinity and fired again at the PDEA operatives, prompting the agents to retaliate, Cacdac said.

"They were heard hurling invectives and cursing our agents, even threatening to kill them, while opening fire," he added. 

The two men were later arrested by local police at the parking lot of a hotel in Tiano-Gaerlan Street, Cagayan de Oro City.

Authorities confiscated three live ammunition of .45 caliber pistol, two steel magazines single stock of .45 caliber pistol, two pieces of brown capsule and a police badge inside the vehicle the suspects used during the shootout.

Based on investigation, the suspects are said to be frequent visitors of detainee, Walid Ansao,33, an alleged old drug den owner who was arrested in a buy-bust operation last Sept.3.

"We have every reason to believe that these men are close contacts of Ansao who are trying to harass and intimidate our agents," Cacdac said.