2 cops, soldier killed in Zambo alleged shootout

From ABS-CBN (Aug 18): 2 cops, soldier killed in Zambo alleged shootout

Two policemen and a soldier of the Philippine Marines were killed in an alleged shootout in Barangay Labuan, Zamboanga City on Tuesday night.

The policemen were members of the Regional Public Safety Battalion under the Police Regional Office IX.

A balut vendor was also injured after he was hit by stray bullet during the shootout.

The commander of Police Station 10, Senior Inspector Raymond Sanson, said his men and the Marines were conducting a routine patrol of the area when the two policemen armed with pistols and long firearms arrived.

One of them was not wearing a complete police uniform.

Sanson said they cannot tell yet who fired the first shot, but he said there was a shootout between the cops and the Marines.

The incident happened in the business district of Barangay Labuan.

As tension rose, most of the business establishments in the area closed early for fear of getting caught in the crossfire.

Labuan barangay chairman Oning Maravilla said the policemen from the Regional Public Safety Batallion has been assigned to secure the coastal areas of their place.

Maravilla said issues relating to their duties and responsibilities started the rift between the policemen and the soldiers.

The Zamboanga City Police Office is still conducting a thorough investigation as to what went wrong in the coordination between the two government security forces.

Kidnapping incidents have previously taken place in Barangay Labuan. In the past few years, three businesswomen and a teacher have been kidnapped in the area by alleged members of Abu Sayyaf Group.
http://rp1.abs-cbnnews.com/nation/regions/08/18/15/2-cops-soldier-killed-zambo-alleged-shootout