5 private armed group members killed in N. Cotabato shootout

From the Philippine News Agency (Apr 12, 2023): 5 private armed group members killed in N. Cotabato shootout (By Edwin Fernandez)

ILLEGAL FIREARMS. Police officers gather the unlicensed firearms seized from a private armed group following a law enforcement operation that left five gunmen dead in Tulunan, North Cotabato, on Wednesday (April 12, 2023). The police were about to serve a search warrant against the group when they allegedly resisted arrest, triggering a bloody 30-minute gun battle. (Photo courtesy of PRO-12)

KIDAPAWAN CITY, North Cotabato – Police said it "neutralized" Wednesday five members of a private armed group (PAG) in neighboring Tulunan town and seized assorted high-powered guns and explosives after they resisted arrest and traded bullet with authorities.

Brig. Gen. Jimili Macaraeg, police regional director for the Soccsksargen Region (PRO-12), said Danny Lamalan Cabakungan and his men resisted when police officers were about to serve search warrants against the suspect for illegal possession of firearms and explosives.

Macaraeg said Cabakungan, also known as Commander Magnetic, and his followers opened fire on police officers as they approached his house in Barangay Dungos around 4 a.m. Wednesday, triggering a 30-minute gun battle that left Cabakungan and four of his men critically injured.

“They were rushed to the Fr. Tulio Fabali Hospital for medical treatment but were pronounced dead on arrival,” Macaraeg said in a statement.

No casualty was reported on the government side.

Macaraeg described Cabakungan as a leader of an armed group engaged in highway robbery, bus bombing and burning, and extortion of farmers during harvest season.

Police seized from Cabakungan’s safe house a .50-caliber Barret sniper rifle, several M16 rifles, Garand rifles, .45-caliber pistols, rifle grenades, 40mm high explosives, fragmentation grenades, improvised bombs and two sachets of suspected shabu.

“I commend the different PRO-12 units involved in this successful law enforcement operation,” Macaraeg said.

https://www.pna.gov.ph/articles/1199234