END OF THE LINE. Suspected gun-for-hire gang leader Ronnie Balah lies dead on the pavement after he tried to grab the firearm of one of his arresting officers while onboard a police vehicle on their way to the police station of Kabacan, North Cotabato on Tuesday (Aug. 4, 2020). Confiscated from the suspect was a .45-caliber pistol (inset) that led to his being stopped at a government para-military checkpoint in Barangay Dagupan before being transported to the police station. (Photo courtesy of Kabacan MPS)
KABACAN, North Cotabato – A long-wanted notorious gang leader in this province was killed after he tried to escape and resisted police officers while on their way to the police station here on Tuesday.
Maj. Peter Pinalgan, Kabacan police chief, identified the suspect as Ronnie Balah, 30, of Barangay Natutungan in Matalam town.
Pinalgan said the suspect was flagged down at a government para-military checkpoint in Sitio Inabihon, Barangay Dagupan for carrying an unlicensed firearm when they were informed of the incident.
Police officers rushed to the area to verify the incident and arrested the suspect for carrying a .45-caliber pistol with ammunition.
However, while on their way back to the police station onboard a police vehicle, the suspect tried to grab the firearm of one of the policemen, forcing the arresting team to neutralize him.
“He was not even handcuffed because we never knew then that the suspect was a high-profile wanted person after he used an ‘alias’ during the conduct of a brief verification,” Pinalgan said.
Balah was immediately brought to the hospital but was declared dead on arrival by attending physicians.
Pinalgan said they later found out on their records that the suspect was the leader of Alakdan gun-for-hire syndicate involved in car thefts and illegal drug trade in the towns of Matalam, Kabacan, Pikit, and Carmen. (PNA)
