COTABATO CITY (Thursday, September 4, 2025) — Policemen shot dead an elusive large-scale peddler of marijuana and shabu in an anti-narcotics operation in Barangay Colongulo in Surallah, South Cotabato on Tuesday, September 2.

Municipal officials and barangay leaders confirmed to reporters on Thursday, September 4, that the slain 39-year-old Stephen Dubria Dagismol was a longtime peddler of marijuana and shabu in Surallah and in nearby towns in South Cotabato and in Koronadal City, the capital of the province.

Senior officials of the South Cotabato Provincial Police Office told reporters on Thursday that personnel of the Surallah Municipal Police Station, led by their chief, Lt. Col. Lemuel Josef Clarete, were about to frisk the suspect after selling to them 10 sachets of shabu, costing P17,600, in Purok Arca in Barangay Colongulo, but he pulled out a .38 caliber revolver and opened fire.

Brig. Gen. Arnold Ardiente, director of the Police Regional Office-12, said Clarete’s team were forced to return fire, killing the uncooperative Dagismol with their service firearms instantly.

The operation was assisted by barangay officials aware of Dagismol’s illegal activities, according to Ardiente.

Local executives and members of the multi-sector Surallah Municipal Peace and Order Council had relayed to reporters that Dagismol had eluded five attempts by different units under PRO-12 to entrap him in different towns in South Cotabato in the 10 months.