MANILA, Philippines — A father and son were killed in a police operation after allegedly firing back at the police in a bid to evade arrest in a Tawi-tawi town on Sunday morning.
Philippine National Police (PNP) chief Guillermo Eleazar identified the suspects as Girang Lipae and his son Basil Lipae who were killed in a joint police and military operation in Barangay Sipangkot, Sitangkai town around four in the morning.
Another unidentified female adult was also killed in the firefight between the suspects and operatives of PNP’s Special Action Force along with Philippine Navy and Philippine Marines, which lasted for about five minutes.
PNP said the suspects, who were wanted for multiple murder, fired upon the operatives when they sensed their arrival, prompting to police to retaliate.
Recovered from the scene are several high caliber firearms like an M1 Garand, a cal. 38 pistol, an FN FAL cal. 7.62 rifle, and one FN FAL loaded magazine, along with several live ammunitions.
Eleazar said that further investigation also revealed that the father and son were allegedly involved in the entry of illegal drugs from Sabah, Malaysia to Tawi-tawi.
Eleazar, who officially took over as PNP chief last Friday, vowed to intensify anti-criminality campaigns even in far flung areas.
”As a new chapter of leadership unfolds in the PNP, I will make sure that we will further intensify our campaign against all wanted persons across the country even if they hide in the smallest and farflung area, we will hunt them down and put them behind bars,” Eleazar said.