Manila: A town mayor in southern Philippines and nine companions who were suspected as transporting drugs were killed in a shoot-out with policemen at a checkpoint in southern Philippines, authorities said.

Mayor Samsudin Dimaukom of Datu Saudi Ampatuan town and his companions were killed during a clash with policemen in Old Bulatukan village, Cotabato Province at 4:30 Friday morning, said a local police report that reached the police headquarters in Metro Manila’s suburban Quezon City.

Dimaukom was the highest local government official ever killed in the country’s campaign against illegal drug trade.

On August 7, Dimaukom presented himself to the provincial office of the Philippine National Police in Maguindanao after he was included in the list of suspected drug protectors and pushers that President Rodrigo Duterte publicly announced at the time.

The suspected drug pushers fired at the policemen who were waiting at the checkpoint — they had received information that Dimaukom’s group would pass by to transport illegal drugs at the Maguindanao-Cotabato area.

Also killed with Dimaukom were three blue guards Nasrudin Alon, 28; Haimen Anwar, 23; and Basir Esmael Mundog, 25; two local government staff members: Alladin Guiamad, 35, Fajir Madi, 38; one driver: Fajad Dimananal, 25; one security guard: Suad Adam Guiamad, 24; one photographer: Elmer Ali, 20; and Mubarak Ali Pasagui, 26.

All of them were Filipino-Muslims and residents of Datu Saudi Ampatuan town.

Police found an M16 rifle, four pistols, a 12-gauge shotgun, ammunition and at least 13 small plastic packs of suspected methamphetamine, a stimulant drug locally known as shabu, from the bullet-peppered vehicles of the suspects, police deputy regional chief Senior Superintendent Leonardo Suan said.

Police said they had received information that Dimaukom’s group was planning to transport a “huge” amount of methamphetamine from Davao city, Duterte’s hometown, to Datu Saudi Ampatuan town.

After the firefight, members of Dimaukom’s group were brought to the Makilala Specialist Hospital and in several clinics in nearby Kidapawan where they were all declared dead on arrival.

Local staff member Badrudin Carinda identified all the slain suspects whose bodies were claimed by relatives at noon of Friday.

No policeman was wounded or killed. The police did not report the volume confiscated illegal drugs during the fatal shoot-out.

International and local rights groups have criticised the Philippines campaign against illegal drug trade which has killed thousands since July.

Duterte has intensified his statements against the United States and the European Union after they threatened to withdraw aid if the government did not end a bloody campaign against drug menace.

Police estimate that more than 3,600 suspected drug dealers and users have been killed since Duterte took office on June 30.