4 alleged vehicle thieves killed in Surigao shootout

BUTUAN CITY -- Four suspected vehicle thieves were killed in a shootout with policemen in Tago, Surigao del Sur at dawn Friday, an official said.

Surigao del Sur Police Provincial Office (SDSPPO) Director, Col. James Goforth, told the Philippine News Agency (PNA) on Saturday that a joint team of police and military personnel engaged the suspects in a brief chase that escalated into a shootout.

Goforth said police operatives from Tago and elements of the Army’s 3rd Special Forces Battalion (3SFBn) established a joint checkpoint in Barangay Jubang in response to the reported theft of two motorcycles in Prosperidad, Agusan del Sur.

A separate police report said that at about 4:45 a.m. on Friday, government forces spotted the suspects on two motorcycles approaching the checkpoint. Instead of submitting themselves for inspection, police said the suspects sped off, prompting the joint police and military team to give chase.

Goforth said the suspects abandoned their motorcycles upon sensing that authorities were on a pursuit, and fired upon government forces as they withdrew to their

safe house in Sitio Cabugi, Barangay Unidos.The two suspected thieves were killed during the shootout. They were later identified through their identification cards as Nuluddin Abbilani Hadjula, 60, a resident of Sionogan, Indanan, Sulu and Alkamar Uding Nuluddin, 24, a resident of Takut-takut, Jolo, Sulu.

“Our forces thoroughly searched the vicinity after seeing blood stains and discovered two more dead bodies in a grassy portion about 100 meters from the hut,” he added. Goforth said the police were still working to determine the identities of the other fatalities.

Authorities recovered from the crime scene several firearms of various calibers, ammunition, grenades, motorcycles, and other pieces of evidence.

Goforth lauded the operating troops led by Capt. Joemel Maquiling of the Tago Police Station and Capt. Julius James Gabaran of 3SFBn.

The bodies were brought to a funeral parlor in Tandag City, the police report said.