Three suspected drug personalities allegedly connected to slain Inabanga drug lord David Anunciado were arrested on Sunday afternoon.

The suspects were arrested by policemen of the Regional Public Safety Battalion and the Inabanga police during a buy-bust operation in Brgy. Cogon, Inabanga.

Police identified the suspects as 48-year-old Joseph Panis, the buy-bust subject, Reggie Melecio, 36, and Richard Melecio, 25, all residents of the said village.

Panis allegedly sold shabu worth P300 to a police poseur-buyer prompting operatives to move in and arrest him.

Authorities said that Panis was able to run but was immediately subdued, leading police to the two other suspects during the brief chase.

Police were able to confiscate 11 sachets of suspected shabu and drug sorting and using paraphernalia from the three men.

According to Senior Insp. Marcus Lopez, chief of the Inabanga police, the suspects are newly known drug personalities in the town but police found out that the three were part of Anunciado’s group.

Anuncaido was killed at Inabanga in a shootout against raiding operatives of the Regional Special Operation Group and municipal police on June 5, 2016.

Anunciado,  who is also suspected of being a hitman, and his companions were heavily armed when the police attempted to raid his home. (Willy Maestrado)

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