Photo courtesy of PDEA-Zamboanga Peninsula.
Authorities in Zamboanga City arrested two suspects and seized illegal drugs worth P3.4 million following a buy-bust operation, the Philippine Drug Enforcement Agency in Zamboanga Peninsula reports.
PDEA-9 Director Bryan Babang identifies the suspects by their aliases Al, 31, from Cavite, and Al Ha, 32, from Quezon City.
Al Ha was wounded during a shootout and taken to RT Lim Family Hospital, while Al suffered minor injuries when his head struck a windshield during the chase.
The arrest occurred around 8:50 p.m. Tuesday at the boundary of Tungawan, Zamboanga Sibugay, and Barangay Licomo in Zamboanga City.
The buy-bust operation was originally planned in Ipil, Zamboanga Sibugay, but the suspects fled toward the highway after sensing other teams nearby.
A hot pursuit ensued, leading to a brief exchange of gunfire before both suspects were apprehended.
Authorities recovered about 500 grams of suspected shabu, a sports utility vehicle, a mobile phone, a .45-caliber pistol, and the buy-bust money.
The suspects face charges under the Comprehensive Dangerous Drugs Act of 2002 and the Comprehensive Firearms and Ammunition Regulation Act. Babang vows to intensify operations to curb illegal drugs in the region.
