Maguindanao Norte, March 22 -- A suspected drug peddler was killed while another one was hurt during the serving of a warrant of arrest in Barangay Semba here on Thursday afternoon, police said.

Lt. Colonel Sahibon Mamantal, municipal police station chief, said the shoot-out erupted when police officers were about to serve the warrant for murder to Samsudin Krega, also listed as an illegal drug personality.

Mamantal said Krega and other suspects opened fire on approaching law enforcers, triggering a brief gun battle.

Krega managed to escape while his companions traded shots with law enforcement officers during the 1 p.m. operation, he added.

"The two were injured and rushed by police to a hospital in Cotabato City, where one of them l...