3 die, 2 hurt in Cotabato City shootout
Local News • 14:51 PM Thu Sep 10, 2015
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By:
Ferdinandh Cabrera and DXMS Radyo Bida reports
One of the four gunmen who traded shots with pursuing soldiers after a shootout along SK Pendatun Avenue, Cotabato City on Sept. 10, 2015. (photo by Ferdinandh Cabrera)
COTABATO CITY – Three persons were killed
while two others were wounded in a shooting incident along SK Pendatun Avenue, Cotabato City at past 9 p.m. Wednesday, police and military here said.Interviewed by DXMS Radyo Bida, Supt. Rex Anongos, city police director, identified
the slain man as Jordan Talusob, 18of Shariff Kabunsuan, Barangay Poblacion 3,Cotabato City.
The suspects were Ben Montes aka Black Moro is now in
police custody and hiscompanions, Roland Cabatuan was killed by responding soldiers while Alima Adam and Mike Montes
were wounded. Police station 1 investigators said Alima Adam was declared dead on arrival at the Cotabato Regional and Medical Center.All of them were residents of Barangay Poblacion 1, Cotabato City.A certain Rey Ganob of Barangay Poblacion 8, Cotbato City was wounded after he washit by stray bullets.Members of the 5th Army Special Forces Police
battalion conducting patrol along SK Pendatun Avenue, about 500 meters away
from Police Station 1, noticed a shootout involving two groups of gunmen on
motorbikes at past 9 p.m.
Colonel Ranulfo Sevilla, 5th Special
Forces Battalion commander, said four gunmen, led by Ben Montes aka Black Moro
shot dead Talusop while he was on his motorbike at a roadside despite the
presence of soldiers conducting security patrol nearby.
The soldiers fired warning shots but the gunmen
traded shots with them.
Montes’ group sped
away on board separate motorbikes while trading bullets with pursuing lawmen.
One of them was killed on the spot. He wasidentified as Roland
Kabatuan while his two accomplish were hurt. Ben Montes, the alleged group leader,was arrested by soldiers.
Soldiers and police officers recovered one cal. 45 pistol, a ca. 38 revolver and STI Grand Master cal. 45 pistol from Montes.Police are still determining the motive in the killing of Talusob.Last month, 17 shooting incidents were reported with 17 fatalities and four injured. From January to to August, 88 cases of shooting involving crimes, 70 killed and 33 injured.