2 suspected car thieves shot dead

TWO alleged members of a carnap syndicate were killed when they reportedly fought back in a sting operation here on Wednesday, Sept. 27 at Xavier Heights in Upper Balulang.

Killed were Carmelito Salvidas alias `Kulot’ of Lanao del Norte and Ernesto Bradero of Tagoloan, Misamis Oriental.

Police said their modus was to steal motorcycle and swap it with illegal drugs.

Taggad as responsible for a series of `Motornapping’ in the city and adjacent towns, Salvidas and Bradero apparently resisted arrest when cops pounced on them.

Chief Inspector Joepet Paglinawan, chief of the Special Operating Unit-6 of the PNP’s Drug Enforcement Group (SOU-6, PDEG), said an informant tipped that the suspects were sighted in the area, prompting them to conduct buy-bust operation.

Paglinawan said the suspects lobbed a hand grenade and threw it at the operatives when they noticed that they were transacting with the police.

The grenade failed to explode while operatives almost simultaneously retaliated which resulted to the killing of the suspects.

“Pagkamatikod nila nga police ilang ka-transact, gilabayan nila og granada ang tropa pero wala nibuto kay wala natarong pagbunot ang pin. Almost simultaneous dayon ang pagtira sa mga police,” Paglinawan said.

Authorities are still verifying the owner of the house which has become a drug den.

Recovered in the area were a stolen motorcycle owned by certain Marjun Saloloy, a fragmentation grenade, and two sachets of suspected methamphetamine hydrochloride or `shabu’ weighing two grams and worth around P2,000.

Paglinawan said the suspects’ modus is to steal motorcycle, have it swapped with illegal drugs in other areas and sell the items to their customers.

“Ang ilang modus ani is kawat motor swap dayon og shabu unya ilang ibaligya dayon ang shabu,” Paglinawan said.

“Atong niaging gabii nakawat nila ang motor ni Saloloy sa may Zone 11, Carmen unya ila napud unta ning ibaligya para makakuha og shabu pang-baligya,” Paglinawan added.

Paglinawan said Salvidas was previously convicted with drug charges and had served his sentence at the Davao Penal Colony.

Paglinawan said the suspects who are considered as medium player in the illegal drug trade belong to a syndicate operating in the cities of Cagayan de Oro and Iligan and adjacent municipalities.

“Matawag sila nga medium player kay diha sila gabagsak sa Xavier Heights unya naa pud hideout nila sa usa mga barangay diri,” Paglinawan said.

“Naa pani silay mga kauban kay dako ni sila nga grupo,” Paglinawad added.

Chief Inspector Mardy Hortillosa, spokesperson of the Cagayan de Oro City Police Office (Cocpo), said they are saddened that the legitimate police operation led by the SOU-PDEG turned out bloody.

“Dili makarga ni nga record nga death sa Cocpo kay ang nag lead SOU-PDEG man,”Hortillosa said.

“Kami sa Cocpo naglikay gyud nga naay mamatay sa mga operation pero naguol ta sa hitabo ug lisod man pud kung dili mobalos ang mga personnel kay basin sila pa lang madisgrasya,” Hortillosa added.