NCotabato robbery shootout kills 6

SIX persons, including a police officer and a civilian, were killed while four others were injured during a shootout in M’lang town, North Cotabato, an official said Thursday.

LtCol. Realan Mamon, M’lang town police chief, identified the slain victims of the shootout that took place Wednesday afternoon as SSg. Rudy Amihan Jr. a member of the local police force; civilian Jack Gumilao, 53 years old; and four unidentified robbers.

Wounded were Cpl. Noli Labesores of the M’lang police and Pat. Hezron Neyra of the Provincial Police Mobile Force, and civilians Tweeny Daza of Bialong village and Jose Patubay of Bagumbayan village, Tulunan, North Cotabato.

Mamon said the gun battle erupted after a dozen armed robbers stormed Regz and Kirks Bakeshop in Bagontapay village, M’lang.

“No employees of the bakeshop were hurt but one of the perpetrators shot two customers and snatched their motorcycles just outside the store,” Mamon said.

The robbers took about P17,000 in cash plus personal belongings from the establishment.

Mamon said the robbers fled to various directions, with two of them riding the stolen motorcycle.

“The two motorcycle-riding robbers engaged lawmen manning a checkpoint in Sitio Quitos, Barangay Dugong, and got killed, while two others running on foot were slain at a shootout in Purok 9, Barangay Sangat,” he said.

Mamon added that Daza was wounded after one of the suspects shot her to divert the attention of the pursuing police team.

“All members of the robbery gang remain unidentified as of this time as we are also waiting for the relatives of the four slain robbers to claim their bodies for us to identify them,” Mamon said.

The authorities recovered four .45-caliber pistols from the slain robbers and four motorcycles believed to have been used by gang members while fleeing from the scene.