Police kills alleged leader of Davao Oriental gun-for-hire group

DAVAO CITY — An alleged leader of a gun-for-hire group in Davao Oriental was killed in a police operation in Mati City on Saturday, police said.

Antonio Enad Sator died upon arrival at a local hospital after he was shot by police for allegedly resisting arrest, Chief Insp. Milgrace Driz, Southern Mindanao police spokesperson said.

Driz said teams of lawmen from Mati City Police Station, Davao Oriental police, regional intelligence division 11 and the 4th Special Action Battalion were out to serve arrest warrants against Sator at his house in Sitio Pahamutang, Barangay Matiao around 4:30 a.m. when the suspect supposedly pulled out a pistol and aimed at them, prompting police to open fire, hitting him multiple times.

The wounded suspect was rushed to a local hospital but was declared dead on arrival by attending physicians.

Driz said authorities recovered at the scene four pistols, several magazines and dozens of rounds of ammunition for pistols and rifles.

She said the operation was witnessed by village officials and representatives of local media.