Soldier killed in Davao del Sur sting operation —Army official

KIDAPAWAN CITY —A former intelligence officer of the 39th Infantry Battalion of the Philippine Army was killed in a police anti-drug operation in Digos City on Wednesday evening.

Lieutenant Colonel Geoffrey Carandang, 39th Infantry Battalion commander, confirmed that the soldier identified as Sergeant Reginald Labajo was a member of the Bravo Company based in Sta. Cruz, Davao del Sur.

Carandang said Labajo succumbed to multiple bullet wounds after engaging members of the elite police force.

“He was our former intelligence officer, but I transferred him to the Bravo Company. However, we cannot monitor his other activities all the time,” Carandang said in a local radio interview. 

Seized from the slain suspect were his firearm, and suspected shabu with estimated street value of more than P500,000. 

Davao Sur police operatives had been monitoring Labajo's involvement in  illegal drugs trade prior to Wednesday's sting operation.

Carandang said Labajo's involvement in illegal activity saddened him, adding that he will not tolerate use or trade of illegal drugs among his soldiers. 

In fact, he said, random drug testing is regularly conducted on their troops. —LBG, GMA News