DAVAO CITY—The alleged top drug pusher in Sto. Tomas town in Davao del Norte was killed on Saturday after elements of the Philippine Drug Enforcement Agency Region 11 and Sto. Tomas Municipal Police Station tried to implement a search warrant at his house in Barangay Libertad, police said.
Arnold Florida was slain after firing a .38 caliber revolver at the police as they served the warrant, PDEA 11 Regional Director Adzhar Albani said.
Authorities recovered P1.9 million worth of shabu from Florida’s house and arrested eight other suspects: Raul Mohammad Asiaw, Shanon Jay Valparaiso, Abel Muñez, Jose Delos Reyes, Adonis Florida, Chris Florida, Omar Timbreza, and King Florida. They will be charged with violating Republic Act 9165 or the Dangerous Drug Act of 2002.
Arnold Florida was “among the most elusive drug personalities of Sto. Tomas” and could have distributed drugs in the entire Davao region since Sto. Tomas is just east of Davao City, Albani added.
Sto. Tomas Mayor Benigno Andamon had warned Florida his drug den would be searched weeks before the warrant was issued, but persisted with his illegal drug activity, the PDEA official added.
“The mayor already warned them, and even scolded them in giving them the chance to change, but they did not obey,” Albani said.