(Eagle News) — The alleged number one druglord in Iloilo was killed in a firefight with police on Friday.
The police said they were only out to serve a warrant of arrest against Richard Prevendido, alias Buang, in an abandoned house in Jaro District around 8:30 p.m., when they were met by a volley of fire, prompting them to retaliate.
Also killed in the gunfight was Prevendido’s nephew, Jason.
Authorities had announced a P5-million bounty on Prevendido’s head after the unsolved killings of another alleged top druglord in Western Visayas, Melvin Odicta and his wife Merriam, last year, but Prevendido had managed to elude arrest.
Also recovered from the abandoned house were two .45 caliber pistols, an AK-47 assault rifle and sachets of suspected methamphetamine hydrochloride.
The incident comes after President Rodrigo Duterte announced the appointment of Chief Insp. Jovie Espenido as officer in charge of the Iloilo police.
Espenido led the raid that resulted in the death of Ozamiz Mayor Reynaldo Parojinog, who was believed to be engaged in illegal drug activities, and several others, in July.
Espenido was also the police chief when Albuera, Leyte Mayor Rolando Espinosa was killed in what police said was a raid in his cell last year.
Espinosa, the father of known druglord Kerwin Espinosa, was facing drug charges, among others, at that time.