SEVEN people, including a barangay (village) chairman, were killed in an anti-drug operation by the Manila Police District and other operatives at the Manila Islamic Center in Quiapo on Friday.
The operation was carried out based on a warrant issued by Judge Thelma Bunyi-Medina of the Regional Trial Court Branch 32.
Around 5:00 am, police entered the Islamic Center to find their target, alleged drug trader Gaus Macabato.
Chairman Faiz Macabato of Barangay 648 tried to stop the operation, resulting in a shootout with operatives, police said. Barangay council member Marik Bayanton was reported as being involved in the shootout.
They were brought to the Ospital ng Maynila for treatment but were declared dead on arrival, police said.
Macabato, who had a bounty of P1 million, was a relative of the Quiapo village chief and was said to have been a member of the terrorist Bangsamoro Islamic Freedom Fighters (BIFF). He was arrested by the National Bureau of Investigation in 2012 in connection with a murder case.
At Fraternal Street also in Quiapo, four other drug suspects were killed while trying to fight authorities.
Police recovered 60 sachets of shabu, eight plastics containing marijuana, two grenades, two shotguns and two caliber .38 revolvers.
A total of 263 people were brought to the Manila Police District headquarters, to check if they were in the drug watch list or had criminal records. One was identified as a member of the BIFF, Sambetory Macaraas Sarip, 33 years old.