By Malu Cadelina Manar
Kidapawan City – A member of the Special Weapons and Tactics (SWAT) Team here was fatally wounded after he engaged three drug suspects in a shootout along the national highway Saturday night.
Kidapawan City Police Director Supt. Ramel Hojilla said PO3 Eric John Yamuta, a member of the city’s SWAT squad, was conducting patrol along the highway when he heard the sound of gunshots near an overpass near the boundary of Datu Ingkal Street and Quezon Boulevard. He sustained a gunshot wound in the head.
“As a police officer, it was his instinct to respond to a shooting incident. He saw at least three gunmen on the streets who were about to board their motorcycles parked near the area. He then fired shots and hit them. Unfortunately, he ran out of bullets. One of the suspects hit him in his head,” Hojilla reported.
Hojilla added that when Yamuta responded to the shooting incident, he discovered a man sprawled lifeless on the pavement with shots to the head.
The slain person was later identified as Alvin Taran, a chainsaw operator.
Yamuta was able to shoot Sugar Ray Dimaano, who had earlier surrendered under the government’s Oplan Tokhang, David Adolfo, and Mario Pagaduan dela Cruz. The suspects are all residents of Barangay Sudapin, this city.
Hojilla said it was Dimaano that shot Taran dead. He added that before the chainsaw operator was killed, the gunman exchanged heated words against him.