MANILA, Philippines – Iloilo City’s “most wanted drug personality’ was gunned down Friday night, September 1, after he allegedly shot at police in a search operation.

According to an initial report of the Philippine National Police (PNP), Iloilo cops were serving a search warrant to Richard Prevendido, known as “Buang,” when they were met with a “volley of gunfire coming from the subject.”

The report said the police forced to retaliate and by the end of the shootout, Prevendido was dead. Also killed was a “male companion” later identified as the suspect’s nephew, Jason Prevendido.

Recovered from the scene was an AK-47 assault rifle, two .45 caliber handguns, bladed weapons, and sachets of suspected methamphetamine hydrochloride or shabu.

The PNP had marked Prevendido, a known drug lord in the area, as a “national target” while the Philippine Drug Enforcement Agency (PDEA) deemed him a high-value target. The Iloilo City government and police, reports said, have put up a P1-million reward for his capture.

Prevendido is said to be a top drug lord in Western Visayas.

His death comes just days after President Rodrigo Duterte announced the reassignment of Chief Inspector Jovie Espenido to Iloilo City. On Saturday, September 2, police said this planned reassignment of Espenido has been cancelled. – Rappler.com