BY DOMINIQUE GABRIEL BAÑAGA
BACOLOD City – The name of slain Negros Occidental’s suspected drug lord Michael Divinagracia has surfaced yet again. Two alleged members of his “drug group” were killed in a shootout with authorities in Muntinlupa City.
The drug suspects were Jordan Sabandal Abrigo and Jayvee De Guzman, according to Philippine National Police (PNP) chief, Lieutenant General Guillermo Eleazar. The two were members of the so-called “Divinagracia Drug Group”.
According to the Muntinlupa City police, the drug suspects were killed in a shootout with cops and personnel of the Philippine Drug Enforcement Agency at the city’s Katarungan Village.
Police recovered 10 kilos of suspected shabu worth P68 million, two .45-caliber pistols and a sedan.
According to Eleazar, aside from Divinagracia, a certain Chinese-national identified only as Jhonson, is being linked to the operation. He further affirmed that Jhonson is currently imprisoned at the New Bilibid Prison.
In a separate interview, Negros Occidental Police Provincial Office (NOCPPO) spokesperson Police Lieutenant Abegael Donasco said verification was ongoing if the seized alleged illegal drugs were bound for Negros Island.
The alleged drug group was known to smuggle illegal drugs via roll-on/roll-off ferries at the Batangas Port.
Last week, Divinagracia was found dead in the town of Baras in Rizal province. He as believed to have been strangled to death with a steel wire, prior to being finished off with gunshots.
Divinagracia had been the top most wanted drug suspect in Negros Occidental, and had a bounty on his head amounting to P500,000.
He fled to Region 4-A in 2019./PN
