9 killed in Ozamiz City police operation

ILIGAN CITY, Philippines (3rd UPDATE) – Police on a routine operation in Ozamiz City engaged in a firefight with suspected criminals, killing 9 and arresting 6 others including one police officer, the regional police said Thursday Thursday night, June 1.

Region 10 Police Spokesperson Superintendent Lemuel Gonda said police from the City Police Station and Provincial Police Safety Company engaged the suspected criminals on Thursday afternoon in Barangays Cabinti and Balintawak in this city.

“The police were conducting simultaneous follow-up operations in Ozamiz City following a shooting and robbery incident when they engaged the suspects,” Gonda said.

Gonda said that upon sensing a police operation, the suspects started shooting at the police, prompting the police to fire back.

“They fired back, neutralizing the suspects – 9 dead, 8 from barangay Cabinti and one from Balintawak,” Gonda said.

Gonda added that 6 were arrested, including one Police Officer 2 Hinoctan, a policeman assigned to the nearby Tangub Police Station.

Gonda said that Hinoctan was at the encounter scene with the suspects.

Police identified those who were killed by the responding officers as Francisco Manzano, Joel Espina Mira, Jerry Manzano, Romeo Libaton, Lito Manisan, Alfie Mahusay, Anjun Simene, and Consorcio Rubio Sr. They had yet to identify the other casualty.

The others who were arrested are Jonner Libatug, Laureto Ugmad, Janice Manzano, Carmelita Manzano, and Monaliza Ugmad.

Police confiscated the following guns, ammunition and items afterwards:

• 2 improvised shotguns 
• 1 Colt Cal .45 pistol without SN
• 1 Colt Cal .45 pistol with SN 560275
• 1 cal .38 revolver with SN S38383
• 1 Colt armalite Rifle with SN 9004908 RP 
• 1 cal .38 super with SN 45012 with chamber load
• 5 fired cartridges of cal 9mm pistol
• 5 ammo of 13 gauge shotgun
• 2 steel magazines
• 3 live ammo of cal .45
• 2 live ammo of Cal .38 revolver
• 1 long magazine of cal 5.56 mm loaded with 17 ammo 
• 1 short magazine of cal 5.56 loaded with 14 live ammo
• 1 live ammo of 5.56 mm
• 2 fired cartridge alloyed of cal. 9mm pistol
• 1 live ammo super .38
• 2 fired cartridge of 5.56mm
• 1 steel magazine loaded 
• 8 live ammo of cal .38
• P70.00 in cash, 
• 11 heat sealed transparent plastic sachets containing white crystalline substance believed to be shabu,
• 1 gold plated necklace 
• 1 gold plated bracelet
• 1 ring

“A hot pursuit operation is on-going,” Gonda added in a message. – Rappler.com