3 suspected assassins dead in clash with cops

PAGADIAN CITY—Three suspected members of an assassins’ gang were killed in a police operation on Thursday (June 20) at San Carlos village in Tukuran town, Zambaonga del Sur.

Police have not released the identities of the dead suspects but police Capt. Nur Mahadi, of the Tukuran police, said they were residents of Labangan town.

Mahadi said the three were killed in a legitimate police operation which he called “stop and freeze.”

Two of the three dead men, according to police, were suspects in the fatal shooting last May 4 of Ibrahim Ungad, chief of the village of New Labangan in Labangan town.

Ungad was leaving his house when he was attacked by two men and shot once with an improvised 12-gauge shotgun, according to city police chief Lt. Col. Alvin Sanguban. Ungad was declared dead in a hospital.

The three slain suspected assassins were riding a tricycle when stopped by policemen. But instead of yielding, the three allegedly opened fire at the policemen with their handguns. Not one of the policemen was hit.

The suspects’ guns, of unknown make and caliber, were recovered, according to police. LEAH AGONOY (Editor: Tony Bergonia)