HUGE HAUL. Police personnel from Cotabato province inventory the firearms seized from private armed group following a law enforcement operation that left five gunmen dead in Tulunan, Cotabato province. CONTRIBUTED PHOTOS (from the police)
KIDAPAWAN CITY — Five members of a private armed group were killed and two others were arrested in a police operation on Wednesday, April 12.
Brigadier General Jimili Macaraeg, Soccsksargen regional police director, said the cops were about to serve around 4 a.m. a search warrant against Danny Lamalan Cabakungan, alias “Commander Magnetic,” when the latter and his men resisted.
Macaraeg said the warrant issued on April 3 this year by Judge Arvin Sadiri Balgot, presiding judge of the Regional Trial Court (RTC) Branch 17 in Kidapawan City was for violation of illegal possession of firearms and explosives.
As the operating units composed of the Cotabato police and members of the Special Action Force approached Cabakungan’s house in Sitio Pedtad, Purok 5, Barangay Dungos of Tulunan town, Cabakungan’s men opened fire, triggering a 30-minute gun battle that left Cabakungan and four of his men injured.
They were rushed to the Fr. Tulio Favali Hospital for treatment but were pronounced dead when they reached the medical facility.
Macaraeg identified Cabakungan as the leader of an armed group involved in highway robbery, bus bombings and burning and extortion of farmers in Tulunan and neighbouring areas.
Police seized from Cabakungan’s house a caliber .50 Barret sniper rifle, M16 rifles, Garand rifles, .45 pistols, rifle grenades, 40mm high explosives, fragmentation grenades, improvised bombs and two sachets of suspected shabu.
“PRO 12 remains steadfast in our campaign against loose firearms. This timely accomplishment adds up to our goal of building a safer and secured Region 12,” Macaraeg said.
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