(FLICKR / MANILA BULLETIN)
Slain during the operation was Winnie Basanon, whose name appeared on the police drug watch list. His cohort was identified as Amor Sayuman. Both are residents of South Ubian Municipality in Tawi-Tawi.
The combined elements of the Philippine Drug Enforcement Agency (PDEA), Tawi-Tawi Provincial Office, Marine Battalion Landing Team 6, Philippine Navy, and South Ubian Municipal Police Station carried out the buy-bust last January 30 at Barangay Bitawlan, South Ubian.
The report said the suspects agreed to sell shabu (methamphetamine hydrochloride) to a PDEA agent, who posed as a buyer.
During the course of the transaction, the suspects sensed that they were dealing with an undercover agent, thus triggering a brief shoot-out.