4 killed in Police Shootout in Midsalip, ZamBoSur

By JONG D. CADION

PAGADIAN CITY, Zamboanga Del City (July 7, 2018)-   Four members of criminal gang operating in the municipality of Midsalip in this province were killed in a shootout with the combined police operatives during the conduct of law enforcement operation at Purok 4, Barangay Cumarom, Midsalip at about 5:30am of July 5, 2018, police official said.

Police Regional Office-9 PIO Chief CINSP Helen L. Galvez disclosed that the combined operating troops were composed of the Regional Intelligence Division 9, Regional Special Operation Group 9-Task Force Tugis, Regional Intelligence Unit 9, Regional Mobile Force Battalion 9 and Midsalip Municipal Police Station.

They were executing the service of Warrant of Arrest for Murder docketed under CC # 13-10,976 against Ramon Bantayan and Rondi Bantayan (ranked as Top 7, Most Wanted Person, Midsalip Municipality, Zamboanga Del Sur), CINSP Galvez said.

Galvez added that the successful operations was resulted to a few minutes of fierce gunfight between operating elements and the fugitives after suspects open fire to the police operatives upon seeing their presence in the area which prompted members of the operating team to return fire against the suspects.

Galvez identified the suspects that killed on the spot were Ramon Bantayan, Rondi Bantayan and two still to be recognized by local police authority.

Police investigators recovered from the possession of the suspects were several improvised shotguns (paltiks), caliber .45 pistols, assorted ammunitions including bladed weapons, PIO Chief said.

Galvez also discloed that the said criminal gangs are responsible in several shooting incidents in the area including incidents of cannibalism.