Police shot dead in Lamitan City checkpoint

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ZAMBOANGA CITY, Zamboanga del Sur (April 24) — A police officer was shot dead in Barangay Colonia, Lamitan City of Basilan province on the night of Tuesday, April 23, while documenting an ongoing checkpoint operation.

Patrolman Khalid Sali Ahmad, a detailed personnel at the police community relations of the 1st Basilan Provincial Mobile Force Company (BPMFC), was taking pictures of an ongoing checkpoint when shot by gunmen on motorcycle, said Colonel Arlan Delumpines, the city police director of Lamitan city.

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“It was part of his duty to document the police activities. It was very unfortunate that while he was performing his duty, two unidentified men on a motorbike passed the checkpoint, and then suddenly made a U-turn. When Ahmad tried to stop them, the back rider shot him in the face, hitting his left eye, the bullet exited at the back of his head,” Delumpines said.

Police personnel returned fire against Ahmad’s attackers but the two suspects managed to escape towards the direction of Barangay Campo Uno. Ahmad was declared dead when rescuers reached the Lamitan District Hospital.

Delumpines said the checkpoint was initiated by members of the 1st platoon of BPMFC under Police Major Rajak Musa.

He said the attack was the latest in the series of harassment against security forces and the first time that a police officer was the victim.

On March 16 this year, a member of the Citizen Armed Force Geographical Unit (Cafgu) was shot dead in Barangay Baimbing, around 16 kilometers from the city proper of Lamitan.

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Halalin Hakimin Muhsil, 30, a Cafgu member under the Bravo Company of the 18th Infantry Battalion, sustained multiple gunshot wounds on his head, ribs, neck, shoulders and arms after he was attacked by a motorcycle-riding assailant.

On February 14, Amin Kemme Jailon, 40, a member of the Civilian Volunteer Organization (CVO) of Barangay Boheyawas, was critically wounded when an unidentified suspect on board a motorcycle shot him using a .45 caliber pistol while he was conducting a roving operation. Delumpines said Jailon was hit on his right upper chest and left shoulder.