BULLET-RIDDLED. The car of slain Staff Sgt. Abejay Dandan of the Kabacan police office that fell on a ditch after being fired upon by gunmen on Tuesday night (April 11, 2023) in Kabacan, North Cotabato. The victim’s 10-year-old son and a house help were unscathed in the incident. (Photo courtesy of Kabacan MPS)
KABACAN, North Cotabato – Police have launched a manhunt against gunmen behind the slaying of an off-duty police officer on Tuesday night in this town.
Capt. Razul Pandulo, deputy municipal police chief, identified the slain victim as Staff Sgt. Abejay Dandan, a member of the Police Provincial Drug Enforcement Unit and a resident of Carmen, North Cotabato.
“Dandan was driving his car along the Davao-Cotabato highway in Barangay Katidtuan with his 10-year-old son and a house helper onboard when fired at around 8:00 p.m.,” he said.
Responding cops rushed Dandan to the hospital, but he expired three hours later. His son and house help emerged unscathed from the incident.
Initial investigation bared that Dandan’s vehicle was heading towards adjacent Kidapawan City when tailed by a pickup truck and a sports utility vehicle whose armed occupants sprayed them with bullets.
The victim’s car fell into a ditch following the incident.
Recovered from the crime scene were empty shells from M16 rifles.
According to Pandulo, they are considering several motives behind the attack but declined to disclose further details pending investigation.
He said Dandan was ambushed some three years ago but managed to survive the attack. (PNA)
