KIDAPAWAN CITY — Police authorities in North Cotabato on Thursday killed six wanted persons and arrested 38 others during a one-day simultaneous serving of search and arrest warrants in the province’s 16 towns.
The six wanted persons resisted arrest and traded shots with lawmen, according to North Cotabato police director Senior Supt. Jonathan Tangonan.
Tangonan said the simultaneous operations were conducted in Kidapawan City and the towns of Makilala, Magpet, Antipas, Pres. Roxas, Arakan, Mlang, Tulunan, Matalam, Kabacan, Carmen, Pigcawayan, Aleosan, Midsayap, Libungan, Alamada and Banisilan.
Law enforcers recovered 35 sachets of shabu in the March 15 “One Time Big Time” operations, five rifle and hand grenades and seven cal. 45 pistols and cal. 38 revolvers.
Tangonan identified the slain suspects who refused arrest and opened fire on lawmen as Jerry and his brother John Rey Castillon during the 8:30 p.m. serving of warrants for gun possession and illegal drugs.
At 9:30 p.m. drug suspect John Ryn Lapastura was killed after he traded shots with police of Barangay Poblacion Tulunan. His companion, Angelito Cabalfin, was also killed after firing at the police.
In Kabacan, North Cotabato, drug suspects Ronnie Acoy and Samboto Macaulang were killed when they resisted arrest and fired at law enforcers. Recovered from them were two cal. 38 revolvers and a 9mm pistol.
Tangonan said those arrested were facing charges ranging from illegal drugs, illegal possession of firearms and explosives, rape, robbery, illegal gambling and murder and attempted murder.
He said the suspects are now detained in police lock up cells in North Cotabato’s 16 towns and a city. (PNA)
