AN ALLEGED member of an Islamic State-inspired local terrorist group operating in South Cotabato province was killed in a drug buy-bust in a village in Polomolok town on Thursday afternoon.
Lt. Col. Alex Joe Orcajada, chief of Polomolok municipal police, identified Friday the suspect as Rolando Compacion, 44, reportedly a “runner” and “informant” of the Dawlah Islamiya-Socsargen Katiba group.
Orcajada said the suspect, who was considered a top drug pusher, sold a sachet of suspected shabu to an undercover police officer in an entrapment around 3:30 p.m. near his home in Barangay Rubber.
He said the suspect pulled out a handgun as he tried to escape from the area after noticing the presence of the other operatives.
The police official said a brief firefight ensued that resulted in the fatal wounding of the suspect, who was declared dead upon arrival around 4 p.m. at the Polomolok municipal hospital.
Recovered from Compacion, who worked as a security guard in a local school, were eight more sachets of suspected shabu, PHP500 marked bill, cellphone, and a “break-type open pistol” with live bullets.
Orcajada said they found in the suspect’s cellphone a number of text messages with leaders and other members of the Dawlah Islamiya-Socsargen Katiba group.
“Based on intelligence reports, Compacion was tasked to monitor our movements and those of other law enforcement units in Polomolok,” he said in an interview.
Orcajada added that the suspect also played a key role in the group’s illegal drug activities in Polomolok, Tupi, and Tboli towns as well as other nearby areas. (By Richelyn Gubalani)
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