PDEA agents kill 3 drug suspects in Surigao City clash

MANILA, Philippines - Three suspected pushers were killed while three policemen were wounded in a shootout in Surigao City last week, the Philippine Drug Enforcement Agency (PDEA) said on Tuesday.

PDEA director general Arturo Cacdac Jr. identified the slain suspects as Jamel Mamao, 26, of Bernadette Village, Barangay Luna, Surigao City; and his cohorts, Ismael Mamao, and Bocari Tandayao.

"Jamel Mamao is a target-listed drug personality and a notorious member of the Mamao Drug Group operating in Cabadbaran, Agusan del Norte and Surigao del Norte," Cacdac said.

The encounter transpired as operatives from the PDEA and the Philippine National Police were serving a search warrant on Mamao's house last February 8.

"Mamao and his cohorts fired upon the authorities as the latter were about to enter the house. Aware of the impending danger to their lives, the operatives had no other recourse but to return fire, killing the suspects in the process,” Cacdac said.

He said three police officers were wounded in the shootout that lasted almost four hours. The policemen are now in stable condition.

Recovered during the operation were 14 plastic sachets of shabu weighing more than a 1/4 kilograms with an estimated street value of P2 million, several drug paraphernalia, two packs of two packs of ice wrapper, cash amounting to P129,230.00, a .45 pistol and a KG9 caliber 9mm machine pistol.