Murder suspect, pal killed in shootout with cop in Zamboanga City

INQUIRER FILES

ZAMBOANGA CITY, Philippines — A murder suspect and his companion were killed in a shootout with a police officer in Barangay Ayala here on Tuesday evening, six hours before the New Year.

In a police report submitted by Senior Master Sergeant Adzhar Lagbas, an intelligence operative identified as Master Sergeant Ryan Mariano of Zamboanga City Police Station 9 was on duty around the Mount Carmel Parish Church at Zone 1 of Barangay Ayala.

While there, Mariano spotted Haber Tating who has two standing arrest warrants for murder.

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Tating and his still unidentified companion allegedly engaged Mariano in a shootout in the middle of the street after knowing they were tracked, Lagbas said.

After an exchange of gunfire, Tating sustained fatal gunshot wounds and was rushed by residents to a hospital in the downtown area where he was pronounced dead. His companion was killed on the spot.

Mariano was wounded and rushed to a hospital in Barangay Labuan.