By Edwin Fernandez

POST-FIREFIGHT SCENARIO. Members of the Lanao del Sur Provincial Police Office gather in Buadipuso Buntong’s town center following a bloody encounter on Monday (May 4, 2026) that left one police officer dead and four others injured. A police follow-up operation on the house of the main murder suspect, Sukair Diongat, who remains at large, yielded PHP2 million worth of shabu and explosives, an official said in a report Tuesday (May 5). (Photo from DXMS Radyo Bida)

CAMP SK PENDATUN, Maguindanao del Norte – Police authorities in Lanao del Sur found over PHP2 million worth of suspected shabu in a house where a wanted person stayed, but managed to escape during the operation.

Col. Caesar Cabuhat, Lanao del Sur police director, said the shabu was recovered from the hideout of a wanted person who was the target of a warrant of arrest in Barangay Catogonan, Buadiposo Buntong, Lanao del Sur, on Monday morning.

The service of a warrant of arrest for murder and frustrated murder against Sukair Diongcat turned bloody when several snipers opened fire on members of the Philippine National Police Special Operations Group, Special Action Force (SAF), and the Buadiposo Buntong Municipal Police Station.

Five police officers, including a police captain, were injured and rushed to a hospital in Marawi City, where Cpl. Kelvin Francisco was pronounced dead on arrival.

“Aside from illegal drugs, police also found empty shells for an M16 rifle and two unexploded M203 grenades,” Cabuhat said in a report Tuesday.

Cabuhat also noted that the snipers targeted the rear of the law enforcers’ formation, drawing their focus away and enabling three suspects to escape.

He said two of the armed men were possibly hit but still managed to escape.

Cabuhat pledged to track down the suspects wherever they flee to deliver justice for the murdered police officer. (PNA)