Man wanted for crimes in N. Cotabato killed in running shootout with cops

KIDAPAWAN CITY — A man long wanted by police authorities for various crimes was killed after he allegedly tossed a hand grenade and engaged policemen in a running shootout in Carmen, North Cotabato, on Sunday afternoon, police said Monday.

His companion was arrested by joint Army and police unit following a shootout.

Insp. Jessie Albay, deputy town police chief, identified the slain suspect as Tantang Tahir, 30, of Barangay Semone, Kabacan, North Cotabato. His arrested companion was identified as Nano Ampit, also known as Muslimin Oping, of Barangay Lanoon, Carmen, North Cotabato.

The two riding tandem on a motorbike were to pass a police outpost in Barangay Gen. Luna in Carmen but sped off when flagged down.

This prompted lawmen to go after the suspects. As police were chasing down the duo, one of the suspects tossed a hand grenade.

The grenade did not explode as its safety pin was not properly removed, Albay said.

As the suspects were fleeing, they crashed from the motorbike that led to the arrest of Ampit.

Tahir continued firing at policemen as he fled on foot.

Hours after the incident, villagers found Tahir’s dead body at an irrigation canal a kilometer away from the police detachment.

Police seized a magnum 357 from Tahir.

Tahir and Ampit were suspected of carrying out robbery, holdup and theft of motorcycles in Carmen and Kabacan towns in North Cotabato.