5 killed, 4 hurt in Cotabato clash; gunman arrested

PIKIT, Cotabato — Five armed men were killed while four others, including three police officers, were injured during a clash in a remote village here on Wednesday morning.

Police Brig. Gen. Alexander Tagum, Soccsksargen police director, told reporters that prior to the clash, police officers, backed by soldiers, were sent to verify reports that stolen vehicles were being kept in a compound allegedly run by a syndicate in Barangay (village) Gukotan.

As the team arrived in the village, they were fired upon by the unidentified gunmen, triggering a firefight that lasted for an hour.

With the help of village officials, the police identified the fatalities as Badrudin Masulot Dalid, Arbaya Dalid Panizares, Asraf Dalid Masulot, Bunta Kabantu and a still unidentified male who all died from multiple gunshot wounds.

Following the firefight, the joint police-Army team found more than 440 assorted motorcycles, two M-60 machineguns, B40 rocket-propelled grenade launchers, an M14 rifle, an M203 rifle fitted with a grenade launcher, three M16 rifles, a vintage .30-caliber carbine rifle, two .38 caliber revolvers and components for making bombs.

The injured police officers were rushed to a local hospital.

Muhidin Dalaganon Mantok, one of the gunmen, voluntarily surrendered and turned himself to authorities.

A resident who asked not to be named told reporters that the compound, which has a tennis court and a basketball court, was owned by a businessman who owns a pawnshop.

The motorcycles, including the firearms, were pawned to the shop, he said, explaining why there was a huge number of motorcycles and vehicles in the area.

Barangay Gukotan is about 20 kilometers south of the Pikit town center.

The police are verifying reports that the area was a storage place for pawned motorcycles.

All the firearms seized during the raid were unlicensed.

/MUF