GENERAL SANTOS CITY—A suspected drug pusher included in President Rodrigo Duterte’s “narco list” was killed while another was arrested in police anti-drug operations over the weekend.
Region 12 police director Chief Supt. Marcelo Morales said suspect Crispio Silao Liquit alias Peping was gunned down by operatives in an alleged shootout in Purok Tinago, Barangay Dadiangas South.
In another search operation, Morales said suspected drug pusher, Neil Figuracion Dayupay, alias Boyet, was arrested at his house in Purok Tinago.
Morales said Liquit and Dayupay are included in the President’s drug list and considered as Level 1 “high-value targets.”
He said a joint team led by personnel from the Regional Police Drug Enforcement Unit-12 was serving a search warrant at Liquit’s house Saturday morning when the shootout happened.
“He (Liquit) resisted and opened fire at the team, prompting them to retaliate and fatally hit him,” Morales said in a statement on Sunday.
The suspect was rushed to a nearby hospital but was declared dead upon arrival.
Authorities recovered from Liquit a Magnum .357 revolver with three live bullets, three spent shells of caliber .357, four spent shells of caliber 9mm and eight plastic sachets containing suspected shabu.
On the other hand, seized from Dayupay were a hand grenade, three sachets of suspected shabu and assorted drug paraphernalia.
Dayupay would be charged today with possession of explosives, illegal drugs and drug paraphernalia, he added.
Meanwhile, Senator Panfilo Lacson urged the government to focus on crime prevention rather than suppression in its war against criminality and illegal drugs.
“In the problem of criminality and drugs, prevention is more important. Crime suppression should come later,” said Lacson, a former PNP chief and chairman of the Senate committee on public order and dangerous drugs.
“I have yet to see massive police visibility,” he added. With Macon Ramos-Araneta
