Suspected drug trader killed in raid

ZAMBOANGA CITY, Philippines - A former Army integree suspected to be involved in drug trafficking was killed Tuesday night during a shootout against raiding police and military in a coastal village of Isabela City, Basilan, a security official said.

Superintendent Albert Larubis, Isabela City Police director, said two members of combat police forces were also wounded during the raid at Barangay Kaumpurnah Zone 2 which left the suspect identified as Alkhan Jailani alias Al or Manong killed.

Larubis identified the wounded police personnel as Police Officers 2 Julius Nabal-o and Moises Dominguez, both members of the police 54th Special Action Company (SAC) and part of the raiding team.

Larubis said the combined elements of the Isabela City Police, 54th SAC and 4th Special Forces Battalion, armed with search warrant, launched the raid at the hideout of Jailani.

However, the operating forces met resistance after they were fired upon by the suspect that triggered the shootout and left Jailani killed on the spot.

The firefight triggered panic among the residents in the area who scampered for safety.

The operating forces recovered from the safehouse of Jailani an M16 rifle; two hand grenades; two rifle grenades; assorted short firearms and accessories; sachets of drugs believed to be shabu and drug paraphernalia. 

The wounded police personnel were brought to the hospital in Isabela and later transferred to the hospital in this city for further medical treatment.