3 slain in shootout with government forces in Cotabato town

MIDSAYAP, Cotabato — Three gunmen were killed after allegedly engaging in a shootout with government forces who were about to search the house of their ring leader in Midsayap town, Cotabato province.

The search on Saturday, Jan. 30, in the house of Tony Mamintal Doloan in the village of Kapinpilan was sanctioned by an order from a court in Sultan Kudarat town, said Maj. Gen. Juvymax Uy, commander of the Army’s 6th Infantry Division.

Uy added that a combined force from the Army’s 34th Infantry Battalion, Philippine Drug Enforcement Agency and Midsayap municipal police were approaching the house of Doloan at around 5 a.m. when they were met with gunfire from automatic rifles.

The ensuing clash lasted for some 30 minutes and left Talus Baundi, Tata Mamental and Fahad Angangaw dead inside the house of Doloan who was not around.

Lt. Colonel Glenn Loreto Caballero, commander of the Army’s 34th Infantry Battalion, said the slain gunmen were turned over to the chief of the village, Toto Kunakon, for immediate burial in keeping with Islamic tradition.

After searching, government forces seized seven sachets of suspected crystal meth or shabu with an estimated value of P210,000.

Also seized were an M-16 Armalite rifle, an M4 Carbine rifle, an M-14 rifle and three motorcycles.

The authorities arrested Satar Manticayaw and Hazel Joy Camancho Mamental, wife of Doloan. They are now in the custody of the Midsayap town police, said Caballero.

JPV