TACLOBAN CITY – Seven suspected members of a criminal gang were arrested following an encounter in which three policemen were killed and four others were wounded on Tuesday, January 30, in Barangay Mahayag, Santa Margarita, Samar.
POLICE stand guard over suspected members of a criminal gang who were arrested following a gun battle in Santa Margarita, Samar, on January 30. (Contributed photo)
READ: https://mb.com.ph/2024/1/30/3-cops-killed-in-clash-with-crime-group-in-samar
The suspects were identified as Gigi Roxas, Fernando Carausos, Romualdo Catalan, Porin Calagos, Fernando Caber, Bryan Jalayahay, and Benjamin Equiran, all residents of Barangay Mahayag.
Seized from them were eight long magazines for 5.56mm with bullets, an AR15 rifle, and two empty long magazines for 5.56mm.
READ: https://mb.com.ph/2024/1/30/pro-8-identifies-cops-killed-in-samar-clash
The fatalities were identified as Police Staff Sgt. Christian Tallo of the 1st Samar Provincial Mobile Force Company, Police Corporal Eliazar Estrelles Jr. of the 1st SPMFC, and Police Master Sgt. Paul Terence Paclibar of the Regional Mobile Force Battalion-8.
Wounded were Police Corporal Rannel Pedamato, Police Corporal Mark Jason Sixta, Police Patrolman Ham Kritnere Capalis, and Police Patrolman Mark Redoblado, all from the 1st SPMFC.
Lawmen were serving a warrant of arrest to Edito Ampoan Jr. and three others for three counts of murder and two counts of frustrated murder when his group fired at the police officers.
Ampoan’s lair was located in a mountainous area 15 kilometers away from the town proper and an almost three-hour hike to the adjacent Barangay Cinco, Santa Margarita.
Also seized in the encounter site were an M16 baby armalite, a Galil Ace, four airguns, 140 rounds of live ammunitio, and hundreds of fired cartridges of different calibers of firearms.