KIDAPAWAN CITY – Police in the municipality of Kabacan, North Cotabato province, is on high alert following a police operation that resulted in the death of five wanted men in the area on Tuesday.
In a radio interview on Wednesday, Police Lt. Col. April Lou Palma, Kabacan municipal police station chief, said the fatalities were part of a group of eight wanted persons who were the subjects of arrest warrants.
“The shootout resulted in the death of five armed and drug personalities, including an alleged commander of Moro Islamic Liberation Front (MILF),” Palma said.
He said operatives from various police units and agents from the Philippine Drug Enforcement Agency (PDEA) were to serve the arrest warrants in Sitio Dima, Barangay Lower Paatan, when the heavily armed group resisted and opened fire on them.
“We were to serve the eight warrants against Ibrahim Macalnas, also known as alias Commander Bigkog, for murder and seven others, when he and his men opened fire, forcing our troops to fire back,” Palma said.
Palma identified the other two fatalities as Ismael Luncayao and Datukan Macalnas, while the remaining two remained unidentified.
He said Luncayao was the primary suspect in the murder of a “pandesal” (salt bread) vendor in Poblacion Kabacan last month after he suspected the victim of being a police or military spy.
A live hand grenade was found beside one of the suspects.
Monera Macalnas, allegedly the wife of the slain Commander Bigkog, was arrested, and P20,000 worth of suspected shabu was seized from her.
Police also found assorted firearms, ammunition, and illegal drugs in the area. (PNA)