Cop who killed attackers in Zamboanga City up for recognition

INQUIRER FILES

ZAMBOANGA CITY, Zamboanga del Sur – The police officer who was the target of assassination but was able to neutralize his attackers is up for recognition for heroism.

Police Colonel Kimberly Molitas, the acting city police director, admitted they are working on honoring Police Senior Master Sergeant Ryan Mariano.

“We are working on it (as we speak),” Molitas said.

Mariano was able to neutralize Haber Tating and Kashmir Ladjahassan Jallao last December 31, when the duo were attempting to kill Mariano at Zone 1 Barangay Ayala, this city.

In a police report submitted by Police Senior Master Sergeant Adzhar Lagbas, Mariano, an intelligence operative of Zamboanga City Police Station 9, was wounded in a shootout against Tating and Jallao. The incident transpired in the middle of the streets of Zone 1 and was captured by CCTV. Mariano took cover in one of the four-wheel vehicles and managed to gun down his attackers.

Molitas confirmed that the two gunmen neutralized in the recent Ayala shootout were implicated in a total of four separate shooting incidents, including three within Zamboanga City.

“Both individuals were already wanted for multiple murder charges tied to various violent crimes,” Molitas said.

Based on records they obtained from the court, Molitas said Tating had a warrant of arrest for two counts of murder.

Jallao also had an outstanding warrant of arrest for the crime of murder.

Tating and Jallao were among the 35 gunmen who were either arrested or killed in police operations in this city in 2024.

“In our ongoing campaign against criminality, the ZCPO has arrested a record-breaking 35 gunmen and neutralized four suspects during armed confrontations with law enforcement officers. The neutralization of these two dangerous criminals in Ayala is a clear indication that no one is beyond the reach of justice, no matter how deeply ingrained they are in violent acts,” Molitas added.

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The Ayala shootout, where two were killed and two wounded, including a 7-year-old minor, was the 88th shooting incident for 2024. The ZCPO has documented 88 shooting incidents, of which 32 have been resolved and 53 cleared. The remaining three cases are under active investigation.