Cops kill 2 drug users in South Cotabato

SOUTH COTABATO - Policemen on Sunday shot dead two drug dependents that turned berserk and attacked them while being pacified in separate incidents in South Cotabato’s Banga and Lake Sebu towns.

The first fatality was Rey De Juan, 36, of Banga town, who was first reported to the police by neighbors cutting down fruit-bearing bananas in a private farm using a sharp three-foot long weeding scythe.

Neighbors said De Juan had sniffed methamphetamine hydrochloride (shabu) with friends before intruding into the banana farm owned by a certain Jun Castillo.

De Juan, armed with a handgun, opened fire on policemen sent to pacify him, forcing them to return fire and neutralize him instead.

De Juan died on the spot from multiple gunshot wounds he sustained in the shootout.

Chief Inspector Marvin Duadua of the Banga municipal police said their intention was to peacefully arrest the suspect, but were forced to shoot him when he refused and opened fire.

The incident was preceded by a hostage drama in Barangay Talisay in Lake Sebu, a hinterland town northeast of South Cotabato, which resulted to the death of the hostage-taker, 31-year-old peasant Marcos Calipay.

Calipay, also a drug dependent, held his entire family hostage for hours in their house after a quarrel with his wife.

Relatives said Calipay was under the influence of shabu when he locked his family in their house and threatened to kill anyone who would try to escape.

Chief Inspector Joven Bagaygay, Lake Sebu’s police chief, said barangay officials and policemen tried to negotiate with Calipay, who eventually agreed to release his hostages and turn himself in.

Surprisingly however, Calipay, armed with a machete, suddenly attacked PO3 Joven Lilla, who was helping guide his hostages out of the house.

Lilla, who sustained cuts in the head and arm, shot Calipay repeatedly with his service pistol, killing him on the spot.

The wounded policeman was immediately rushed by companions to a hospital for medication.