MANILA, May 26 (Xinhua) -- Nine drug suspects were shot dead in a raid in North Cotabato province in southern Philippines, police said Saturday.

Police officer Bernard Tayong of the North Cotabato Police said the suspects were killed around 11:15 p.m. local time on Friday in gunbattles with police in a village in Matalam town.

He said a team of policemen swooped into the hideout of the drug suspects with a search warrant but was fired at by the suspects led by Dadting Kasan and Intan Aban.

"(The suspects) fought and engaged law enforcers in heavy firefight," Tayong said, adding the shootout lasted an hour.

Tayong said no illicit drugs were found during the raid, however, police seized assorted firearms, including improvised 50-caliber barre sniper rifle, rocket-propelled grenades and ammunition.

The Philippines has intensified its anti-drug war that resulted in arrests and deaths of alleged drug dealers and users.