One of most wanted slain in North Cotabato

From the Philippine News Agency (Nov 26): One of most wanted slain in North Cotabato 
 
A follower of Central Mindanao's most wanted man was killed while a soldier was slightly wounded in a clash here Tuesday morning while government forces were serving warrants of arrest.

Chief Inspector Elmer Guevarra, chief of North Cotabato Criminal Investigation and Detection Group (CIDG), identified the slain armed man as Ramon Bantolinay, one of the most wanted man in North Cotabato.

Guevarra said combined elements of CIDG, 7th Infantry Battalion and Pikit police tried to serve several warrants of arrest for Datukan Sama alias "Commander Lastikman" in his hideout in Sitio Tinibtiban, Barangay Batolawan in Pikit at dawn.

As the soldiers arrived at past 4:00 a.m., they were met with gunfire that left Police Officer 2 Christopher Soriano slightly wounded in the shoulder.

When lawmen returned fire, Lastikman and his followers scampered for safety and hid in various houses.

"Our informant confirmed Lastikman's presence in the safehouse and it was corroborated by Lastikman's wife," Guevarra said, adding that the wife was invited for questioning.

"She was very cooperative, in due time Lastikman will fall in government hands," he added.

The raiding team also seized three Armalite rifles owned by Samad's armed followers.

In July 9, 2012, Lastikman bolted the Maguindanao provincial jail in Cotabato City along with 10 other inmates after sawing off the iron grill of the bathroom inside the detention cell.

Samad is considered a high-profile suspect facing charges of bombing, kidnapping, cattle rustling, multiple murders, and highway robberies.

Previously incarcerated before 2012, his comrades tried but failed to rescue him when they attacked the Kidapawan City jail.

http://www.pna.gov.ph/index.php?idn=2&sid=&nid=2&rid=591049