By Dominique Gabriel G. Bañaga

The name of slain Negros Occidental drug lord Michael Divinagracia has resurfaced yet again after two alleged members of his drug group were killed in a shootout with police in Muntinlupa City.

Police identified the two slain drug suspects as Jordan Sabandal Abrigo and Jayvee De Guzman, both of whom were identified by Philippine National Police (PNP) chief General Guillermo Eleazar as members of the Divinagracia Drug Group.

Based on a report issued by the Muntinlupa City police, the two drug suspects were killed after they allegedly tried to fight off members of the PNP and Philippine Drug Enforcement Agency in the city’s Katarungan Village.

Police recovered 10 kilos of suspected shabu worth P68 million, two .45 caliber pistols and a sedan vehicle used by the suspects.

According to a statement given by Eleazar, aside from Divinagracia, a certain Chinese-national identified only as Jhonson is linked to the illegal drugs seized in the operation. He further affirmed that Jhonson is currently imprisoned at the New Bilibid Prison.

In a separate interview with Negros Occidental Police Provincial Office (NOCPPO) spokesperson, Police Lt. Abegael Donasco, she said they are currently verifying if the drugs seized in the operation are bound for Negros island, especially as the drug group is known to have smuggled their illegal drugs via roll-on/roll-off ferries at the Batangas Port.

Last week, Divinagracia was found dead in the town of Baras in Rizal province. The slain drug lord was believed to have been strangled to death with a steel wire, prior to being finished off with gunshots.

Divinagracia is the top most wanted drug suspect in Negros Occidental, and has a bounty on his head amounting to P500,000 and fled to Region IV-A in 2019./DGB, WDJ