ZAMBOANGA CITY- The head of Intelligence of Pagadian City Police and two suspected arms dealers were killed during a shootout that erupted after a sting operation involving loose firearms in Pagadian City shortly after midnight on Sunday, August 23.
A police report identified the slain police official as P/Maj. Aiman Khuzaimah P. Pantaran, 35, head of the Pagadian City Police Station Intelligence Unit and a resident of Barangay Tiguma, Pagadian City.
Investigation showed that Pagadian Police launched a sting operation led by Pantaran against brothers Jhonny Bravo Gomez and Jerry Bravo Gomez, persons suspected of illegal trafficking of unregistered firearms.
The operation was carried out, but it led to a shootout after the suspects sensed that they were dealing with authorities.
Pantaran suffered a gunshot wound to his upper torso and died while undergoing medical treatment. The brothers also sustained fatal gunshot wounds.
Police Regional Office-9 (PRO-9) expressed its condolences and honored the fallen officer.
"His loss is deeply felt by the entire Police Regional Office=9 family. Behind the uniform was a fellow officer, a brother, and a person whose life was dedicated to protecting others," said a PRO-9 statement.