Anti-drug agent killed, DENR personnel hurt in separate incidents in Ipil

ZAMBOANGA CITY, Philippines  - - A narcotics agent and a former environment personnel were killed while another was wounded in two separate shootout and gun attacks in this city and Ipil town, Zamboanga Sibugay Province, according to police Monday.

The police said a shootout erupted between local police personnel and an agent of the Philippine Drug Enforcement Agency (PDEA) identified as Joel Pintacasi Sacro, who was killed Saturday morning at Barangay Sta. Maria.

Chief Inspector Ariel Huesca, Spokesman of Police Regional Office 9 (PRO), said the elements of the Police Station 7 in Barangay Sta. Maria responded on reports that an armed suspicious person  was monitored in an apartment along Saavedra extension.

However, while the responding police forces were approaching the apartment they were fired  at by the suspect, triggering a brief firefight.

Huesca said the suspect,  who turned out to be a  PDEA agent assigned in Tawi-Tawi but residing in Barangay Putik in  this city, was hit and killed on the spot.

Elements of the police Scene of the Crime Operative (SOCO) recovered from the possession of the slain PDEA agent two .45 caliber pistols loaded with ammunition, and one M16A2 rifle with a magazine loaded with  six ammunitions.

Meanwhile, the slain former personnel of the DENR provincial official was identified as Rodolfo Balagot, 55, while his wounded companion was Joel Cañales,  of legal age.

Police said Balagot and Cañales were on board their motorcycle bound for Palid wharf at barangay Magdaup when two unidentified suspects, tailing them on a separate motorcycle, fired at the victims from behind.

Balagot, who was the back-rider, died on the spot while Cañales was rushed to a nearby hospital for treatment.

Responding police recovered two slugs and four spent shells of ammunition believed to be fired from a .45 caliber pistol used by the suspects who sped towards the village of Magdaup and made good of their escape.

Huesca said the local police were considering several motives for the attack including related to the victims' work and business interests.