PDEA agent, DENR man killed in Zamboanga

ZAMBOANGA CITY, Philippines – An agent of the Philippine Drug Enforcement Agency (PDEA) and a former personnel of the Department of Environment and Natural Resources (DENR) were killed while another was wounded in separate shooting incidents here and in Zamboanga Sibugay, police said yesterday.

Reports said PDEA agent Joel Pintacasi Sacro was killed in a shootout with members of the city police in Barangay Sta. Maria on Saturday.

Chief Inspector Ariel Huesca, spokesman for the Police Regional Office 9 (PRO9), said the members of the Police Station 7 responded to reports that a suspicious person was seen in an apartment on Saavedra extension.

He said as the police were approaching the apartment,  Sacro allegedly shot at them, triggering a firefight.

Investigators from the Scene of the Crime Operatives (SOCO) recovered two .45 caliber pistols and an M16 rifle from Sacro’s possession.

Meanwhile, Rodolfo Balagot, 55, a former personnel of the DENR, and his companion, Joel Cañales, were on board a motorcycle when two gunmen shot them in Barangay Magdaup, Ipil, Zamboanga Sibugay.

Balagot died on the spot while Cañales was rushed to the hospital for treatment.

Police recovered two slugs and four shells believed fired from a .45 caliber pistol at the crime scene.