2 dead in alleged shootout in Davao Oriental

MANILA, Philippines — Two people were killed after allegedly resisting arrest from law enforcers and figuring into a shootout in Boston town in Davao Oriental on Sunday afternoon.

The Philippine National Police on Sunday identified the suspects as Jelfin Cotic and Jolan Cotic, who were a suspected leader and member of a crime group, respectively.

Police reportedly served warrants of arrest against the suspects in Brgy. Caatihan but they resisted arrest and engaged law enforcers in a firefight.

Caraga Regional Director Brig. Gen. Romeo Caramat Jr. said Jelfin and Jodan Cotic were previously indicted for murder and attempted murder.

Jelfin Cotic also had an outstanding warrant of arrest for murder under another criminal case.

Police said the suspects were members of the Kapatiran Group, which is a listed private armed group engaged in gun-for-hire, illegal logging, and extortion operating in Surigao del Sur and Davao Oriental.

Jelfin Cotic was also listed as No. 1 most wanted person in Caraga region in the 2nd quarter of 2020, police said.

The suspects were also allegedly involved in the killing of another group member, John Consegra, who was allegedly the one who fed information to the Department of Environment and Natural Resources that resulted in the confiscation of the logs of the suspect.

PNP also said the suspects were involved in the shooting of Special Action Force troopers and a certain Arnel Linawan Salomon, along with other DENR personnel during the recovery and retrieval of illegal cut logs in Brgy Bugac, Lingig, Surigao del Sur.

The suspects were likewise arrested in 2019 for frustrated murder, which, however, was dismissed due to lack of sufficient evidence and affidavit of desistance from the victim, PNP added.

Recovered at the house of Jelfin Cotic were a M16 rifle and a 9 mm pistol, while another M16 rifle was recovered at the house of Jodan Cotic, approximately 370 meters away from the residence of Jelfin, PNP said.

JE