Cop, 4 others injured in shooting incident in Kidapawan

KIDAPAWAN CITY, Cotabato — Five persons – one of them a member of the Special Weapons and Tactics (SWAT) – were injured during a shooting incident here on Saturday evening, the police said Sunday.

Supt. Ramel Hojilla, chief of the Kidapawan City Police Station, identified the injured as PO3 Eric John Yamuta, Alvin Taran, Sugar Ray Dimaano, David Adolfo, and Mario Pagaduan dela Cruz.

Yamuta, who was in civilian clothes, was on a motorbike when he saw a man being shot at the corner of Datu Ingkal Street and Quezon Boulevard around 10 p.m.

He said the officer quickly responded and fired at the armed man, later identified as Dimaano.

Dimaano, a former drug surrenderee, had reportedly just shot Taran.

Adolfo and Dela Cruz joined the fray.

As Yamuta ran out of ammunition, the already injured Dela Cruz shot him and hit him on the head.

Yamuta was rushed by responding police officers to the Kidapawan Doctors Hospital and later transferred him to a hospital in Davao City.

Taran, Dimaano and Adolfo were also rushed to the Kidapawan Medical Specialist Center, while dela Cruz was brought to the Madonna General Hospital here.

Hojilla said probers were still finding out why Dimaano shot Taran.

Meanwhile, charges were being prepared against Dimaano, Adolfo and dela Cruz.

/atm