DAVAO CITY (August 9) — A Philippine Drug Enforcement Agency (PDEA) operative was killed while three Philippine Marine personnel, including a lieutenant colonel, were wounded during a joint anti-illegal drug operation that turned into a gun battle in Bongao, Tawi-Tawi, on Sunday morning.
Capt. Steffi Salanguit, spokesperson of the Police Regional Office–Bangsamoro Autonomous Region (PRO-BAR), said the operation was jointly conducted by the PDEA and the Marine Battalion Landing Team-4 (MBLT-4) at around 6:00 a.m. in Sitio Mapanbubu, Barangay Paniongan, Bongao.
According to an initial police report submitted by Lt. Col. Roy Zantua, chief of the Bongao Municipal Police Station, the operation escalated into an armed encounter, resulting in the death of PDEA operative Enfernie Jim Dayag, 29.
Three Marine personnel were also wounded, including Lt. Col. Malabanan, whose first name and condition were not immediately disclosed. The identities of the two other injured Marines have yet to be released pending official notification and verification.
Authorities have not yet disclosed the identities of the drug suspects involved or whether any arrests were made during the operation.
Salanguit said the Bongao Municipal Police Station is continuing its investigation to establish the circumstances that led to the exchange of gunfire and determine the sequence of events during the anti-drug operation.
“The Bongao Municipal Police Station is still gathering additional information regarding the incident,” Salanguit said. Police investigators are expected to examine the crime scene, recover ballistic evidence, and obtain statements from members of the operating teams to determine how the buy-bust operation unfolded.
Authorities have also not yet confirmed whether the suspects managed to escape or whether illegal drugs, firearms, or other evidence were recovered during the operation.
The incident shows the dangers faced by law enforcement personnel conducting anti-illegal drug operations, particularly in areas where armed resistance may be encountered.
Under standard operating procedures, buy-bust operations are carefully planned and coordinated among participating agencies. However, authorities acknowledge that operations can rapidly turn violent when suspects resist arrest or engage government forces.
PDEA and the Philippine Marine Corps have yet to issue separate statements regarding the incident, including the operational status of the wounded personnel and whether additional law enforcement actions will be conducted against the suspects.
The fatality is among the latest casualties involving law enforcement personnel engaged in anti-illegal drug operations in the Bangsamoro Autonomous Region in Muslim Mindanao, where police and military units continue to work jointly against drug trafficking and other organized criminal activities.
Authorities said a more detailed report will be released after investigators complete their initial assessment,
