6 nabbed over murder of police intelligence officer in N. Cotabato

COTABATO CITY – Police in Mlang, North Cotabato arrested Sunday six men believed to be behind the murder of Senior Police Officer 1 Jovette Galan last September 14.

Mlang town police chief Supt. Geovanni Ladeo identified the arrested suspects as Michael Mandadtem Bongkaisan and Ibrahim Macalnas Maacal, both residents of Mlang; and Alex Baliwan, Murad Baliwan Mael, Taha De Leon Kusain and Mamayla Dagandalan Kusain, all residents of Barangay Paatan in Kabacan, North Cotabato,

Ladeo said police first arrested Bongkaisan and Mael, who later confessed participation in the crime as “look out.”

They later told police that their companions were hiding in nearby town of Kabacan. The two also accompanied the police in arresting their four companions in Barangay Paatan.

All the suspects however pointed to Baliwan as the gunman who shot dead Galan along the national highway in Barangay Lika in Mlang, North Cotabato last Friday night.

Ladeo said the six persons conspired to shoot Galan, who was doing intelligence works in Barangay Lika. As Galan fell, the suspects grabbed his service 9 mm pistol and his motorbike.

He said the motive could be robbery or related to Galan’s work as intelligence officer.

Ladeo said the suspects are now detained at Mlang police station while charges for murder were being prepared against them. /kga