KABACAN, North Cotabato — Police here reported that two armed drug suspects were killed in a shootout with cops here while trying to elude arrest.

Municipal Police chief Lt. Col. Irish Hezron Parangan identified the slain suspects as Johari Kasim Adtag and Boy Macacua, both residents of Barangay Kidama in Matalam town.

Parangan said the suspects were riding a motorcycle approaching a police checkpoint along Barangay Osias here at 9:30 p.m. Thursday when they stopped and hurriedly turned around while firing at the police officers.

"Our police officers were fired upon first by the fleeing suspects, prompting them to give chase while firing back," Parangan said.

The suspects were neutralized minutes later along Sunrise Street in Barangay Poblacion after refusing to surrender.

Recovered from the suspects were two .45-caliber pistols and several heat-sealed sachets of suspected shabu and Parangan said the two are also suspected to be behind the series of stick-ups in the town recently.