Agusan del Sur’s most wanted killed in shootout

MANILA, Philippines—The top most wanted person in San Luis, Agusan del Sur, was killed after he resisted arrest Wednesday in the town, the Criminal Investigation and Detection Group (CIDG) said Thursday.

CIDG Director Police Director Samuel Pagdilao Jr. said that Steven Francisco, 42, a resident of Purok 1, Barangay (village) Baylo, San Luis, Agusan Del Sur, drew his gun and fired at policemen who were serving the arrest warrant.

He said Francisco was accused in the killing of a certain Staff Sergeant Jonnie Patricio Bautista in 2004 and also implicated in the killing of Jeremy Bautista, the cousin of the slain sergeant in 2007.

Pagdilao Jr. said CIDG operatives spotted Francisco around 8:30 a.m. Wednesday while the accused was walking to his farm.

When CIDG operatives approached Francisco and introduced themselves as policemen, the suspect fired at the arresting officers, prompting them to fire back, hitting Francisco on the different parts of his body, he said.

Pagdilao said Francisco was rushed to a hospital in Talacogon, Agusan Del Sur for medical treatment but died along the way.

Recovered from Francisco were an improvised shotgun, a .357 revolver, several rounds of ammunition and a 25 inches long bolo (jungle knife), he said.