3 gunmen slain in clash with police in South Cotabato town

INQUIRER FILES

COTABATO CITY – Three armed men were killed while a police officer was injured during a shootout Tuesday afternoon in Barangay Palkan, Polomolok town, South Cotabato.

Major Johnny Rick Medel, Polomolok municipal police chief, identified the fatalities as Ronnie Romano, 51, Harold Pasaquian, 40, and Yok Dajay, 30, all residents of Antipas, Cotabato.

Medel said gunman Nestor Espelon, 56, a farmer from Sitio Satol, Barangay Palkan, was nabbed while four others managed to elude arrest.

Police Chief Master Sgt. Jonathan Boiser of Polomolok police station was slightly injured.

“We received reports from civilians about the presence of armed men roaming in their farms, so we immediately responded,” Medel said.

As the police were approaching the village, the gunmen opened fire, sparking a shootout.

Police found two carbine rifles, one M16 rifle, a caliber .45 pistol, and ammunition in the area where the gunmen were staying.

Medel said the men could be part of a private armed group.