Escalante city: The Philippine Drug Enforcement Agency-Negros Island Region (PDEA-NIR) is investigating the network of a newly identified drug group leader killed during a law enforcement operation in Escalante City, Negros Occidental. The suspect, identified as "alias Joseph," and two others were killed in a firefight Wednesday after a joint team attempted to serve three warrants of arrest in Barangay Jonobjonob.

According to Philippines News Agency, investigation agent Jan Keith Capili, PDEA-NIR spokesperson, confirmed that "alias Joseph" was the subject of an arrest warrant for violating Republic Act (RA) 9165 (Comprehensive Dangerous Drugs Act of 2002) and two counts of RA 10591 (Comprehensive Firearms and Ammunition Regulation Act). The other fatalities were identified as "alias Piolo" of Barangay Malasibog and "alias Roy" of Barangay Jonobjonob.

A PDEA-NIR report indicated that operating units encountered armed resistance during the service of the warrants, which led to the confrontation. Joint operatives seized 13 heat-sealed plastic sachets of suspected shabu weighing around 13 grams, with an estimated market value of PHP88,400. They also recovered PHP10,000 in cash, believed to be drug proceeds.

Recovered weaponry included an M16A1 rifle, two caliber .45 pistols, magazines, and various live ammunition and fired cartridges.