LAWLESS GROUP. Police officers account for the guns recovered from three slain members of a local gang in Pikit, North Cotabato, following a clash on Saturday (March 11, 2023). A police officer was also wounded in the encounter. (Photo courtesy of Pikit MPS)
PIKIT, North Cotabato – Authorities here are hot on the trail of lawless elements who clashed with policemen over the weekend, resulting in the killing of three gunmen and wounding of a police officer.
Lt. Col. John Miridel Calinga, the town police chief, said they have coordinated with peacekeeping teams in the town’s 42 barangays to intercept members of the group who eluded arrest.
“Our barangay peacekeeping action teams are on alert by establishing checkpoints in all possible exit points of the town,” he said in an interview Monday.
On Saturday, local police operatives, armed with an arrest warrant, conducted a law enforcement operation in Barangay Macabual on suspects Abdullah Kurdotoy and Jonathan Kadalem, both facing murder and attempted murder charges.
“The approaching operatives were fired upon by the armed group that forced them to retaliate,” Calinga said.
The encounter resulted in the death of Maano Sanday, Norman Samsudin and Baganian Baguinda Alimao, 65, all residents of Macabual village.
Cpl. Eric Saltin Buslayan, a member of the police’s Special Action Force, was wounded in the gun battle but is now in stable condition.
The operating team recovered 2 M16 rifles, two bandoliers, a homemade shotgun, 2 short steel M16 magazines, 48 live ammunition and other war materiel. (PNA)
