In a harrowing incident in Sultan Kudarat, Maguindanao del Norte, a drug bust turned deadly on Friday, resulting in the deaths of two police officers and injuries to two others. The operation, which took place at 11 a.m. in Barangay Crossing Simuay, was initially set up as an entrapment to seize a kilo of shabu valued at PHP6.8 million. However, the situation quickly escalated into a violent shootout with heavily armed drug suspects.
The fallen officers were identified as Corporal Kirt Sipin and Patrolwoman Roselyn Bulias, both members of the Regional Police Drug Enforcement Group (RPDEG). Patrolmen Jonel Ramos and Eddie Sugarol, also from the RPDEG, sustained injuries during the confrontation. The police managed to arrest two suspects, Sohud Kasim and Ting Katulangan, who were wounded and are now under medical care and heavy police surveillance.
Lt. Col. Jopy Ventura, the spokesperson for the Police Regional Office in the Bangsamoro Autonomous Region (PRO-BAR), reported that a manhunt is currently in progress for two additional suspects who escaped during the chaos. This tragic event underscores the dangers faced by law enforcement officers in their efforts to combat the drug trade in the region.