Gov't troops encounters armed men in Siocon, ZDN

By Jong Cadion

ZAMBOANGA CITY (June 5, 2017) - Three individuals were abducted by number of fully armed men at about 9:43 PM Friday (June 2) in Sitio Kapulan, Barangay D. Reconallia, Siocon in the nearby province of Zamboanga Del Norte, official said.

Police Chief Inspector Joseph R Maulad, Siocon Police Chief, identified the victims as Carlo Cariño, 24, Marjun Alano, 27, and Ronnie Tanggupan,  40, all residents of above-mentioned place.

         

Meanwhile, more or less forty (40) families residents of So Gisakan, So Kumutan & So Dumayog, all of Barangay D. Reconalla evacuated their place and later stayed at Chapel and School at the said barangay. 

         

The PNP personnel of Siocon MPS led by Police Chief Inspector Joseph R Maulad, 13^th Special Forces Personnel led by Capt. Rodillo C. Famulag and Capt. Joy R Boliguen and 42nd Infantry Battalion, Phil. Army led by 2^nd Lt. Emmuel John P Perez, conducted hot pursuit operation at Sitio Dumayum, Barangay D. Riconalla at about 4:30 AM on Saturday (June 3).

        

PRO9 information officer PCInsp. Helen L. Galvez said that this resulted in a firefight between the government troops and the armed men for about five (5) minutes with no casualties from the government side while traces of blood were seen in the location of the armed men. Eventually, two civilians were rescued after they were able to run while the firefight is on progress. The two rescued civilian were later identified as Marjun A, Alano 29 years old and Carlo C. Carino 23 years old, both victims were brought to the Barangay Hall of D. Riconalla. However, one (1) civilian cadaver identified as Ronie Tangupan was discovered lifeless in the encounter site.

         

PCInsp. Galvez further said that the operating troops continue in pursuing the lawless armed elements which retreated to NIA Dam also in Barangay D. Riconalla, Siocon and attempted to hostage other two (2) civilians identified as Edison Maquilang and Joseph Pangaral but were able to escape and rescued by the blocking troops in the area.

         

As pursuit operation is on progress while lawless elements were retreating towards Barangay Makiang, the victims were able to identify the two (2) suspects among the ten (10) armed men who held them captive and serve as the guide going to the house of the Barangay Chairman Of D. Riconalla, Hon. Dante Fabora Realiza.

The two (2) suspects were later identified as certain Halid Antao Yacob, 28 years old and Faizal Indal, 29 years old, both residents of Barangay Panabuatan, Sirawai, Zamboanga Del Norte. 

Witnesses further stated that the suspects were armed with kg9, kg45, caliber .30 Garand, M14 and m16 rifles.

Furthermore, it was also learned that this lawless group is also the suspect of a recent atrocities that transpired in Sirawai, Zamboanga Del Norte. The local government unit of Siocon, Zamboanga Del Norte headed by Mayor Julius S. Lobrigas provided the ten (10) families evacuees of their basic needs and commodities who are temporarily shelter at the Barangay Hall of D. Riconalla, Siocon, Zamboanga Del Norte.

Documentation is being prepared by Siocon MPS for filing of appropriate charges in court against the suspects. Motive of the incident is extortion at Barangay D. Riconalla, Siocon, Zamboanga Del Norte.