Polomolok in South Cotabato (Image from Google Maps)
KORONADAL CITY – Police in Polomolok town in South Cotabato province killed three men suspected of the murder of the town’s deputy police chief in September this year.
Police officers, accompanied by soldiers from the 27th Infantry Battalion, were about to serve warrants against Allan Ewah, 45, Saddam Macabangin, 35, and Modja Tungka Adam, 45, all residents of Barangay Koronadal proper, when the suspects fired at them, triggering a gunbattle, according to Chief Insp. Aldrin Gonzales, information chief of the Soccksargen Police Regional Office (PRO-12), said
Gonzales theere were 11 search warrants issued on the suspects for illegal possession of explosives and violations of the Comprehensive Firearms and Ammunition Regulation Act.
He said the suspects were all inside a house when the law enforcers arrived.
The suspects were taken a hospital in Polomolok where they were declared dead on arrival.
Supt. Maximo Sebastian Jr., chief of Regional Anti-Street Crimes Task Force of PRO-12, headed the arresting team.
Sebastian said the slain suspects were known “guns for hire” who were responsible for the murder of Senior Insp. Hernan Gabat, deputy chief of the Polomolok Municipal Police Station, and PO2 Charlie Liva of the Surallah Municipal Police Station – both in South Cotabato.
Gabat, also Polomolok town intelligence chief, was in a dinner with two companions at Mang Ephoy Lechon House on the national highway in Purok Pag-asa of Barangay Magsaysay, Polomolok when suspects strafed them with assault rifles on Sept. 26.
All of them died in the shooting.
PO2 Liva was driving a motorcycle when gunned down in Barangay Polunuling, Tupi town in South Cotabato on Oct. 26.
Sebastian said the raiding team recovered three .45-caliber pistols, a .38-caliber revolver, a grenade launcher, a dud explosive, two home-made 12-gauge shotguns and ammunition for various firearms – all unlicensed.
Another suspect, Jordan Macabangen, 25, eluded arrest. /atm