Cop, 3 civilians hurt as gunmen clash in Lanao Sur town center

From the Philippine News Agency (May 3, 2023): Cop, 3 civilians hurt as gunmen clash in Lanao Sur town center (By Edwin Fernandez)

LIVE EXPLOSIVE. A live rifle grenade is found hanging in a makeshift variety store stall in Barangay Paser Pantalan, about 800 meters from the clash site of two warring clans in Malabang, Lanao del Sur on Tuesday night (May 2, 2023). Police forces (inset) have been deployed around town to defuse the tension after a cop and three civilians were wounded by stray bullets in the incident. (Photo courtesy of Malabang resident Mohammad Abu)

CAMP SK PENDATUN, Maguindanao Norte – Heavily armed men traded gunshots in the middle of the densely populated town center of Malabang, Lanao del Sur on Tuesday night, leaving a cop and three civilians injured.

Capt. Jerome Baliuag, deputy chief of the Malabang municipal police station, said the firefight erupted at about 9 p.m. amid a drizzle, sending civilians to seek cover within their homes.

“It ended at about 10:05 p.m. or about an hour later,” Baliuag said in a report Wednesday, adding that the clashes involved two warring families and occurred between Barangays Tubok and Chinatown in Malabang.

Baliuag identified the injured as Patrolman Abosali Balindong of the Malabang police, and civilians Mikel Maliga, Abdullah Minalang, and Samsodin Dilawan, all of Poblacion, Malabang.

Fighting ended when personnel of the Malabang police and the provincial police, backed by soldiers, arrived at the scene.

Responders rushed those injured to the Dr. Serapio Montañer Hospital in the same town.

A resident, Mohammad Abu, shared on his Facebook page on Wednesday a photo of an unexploded rifle grenade projectile that landed on a makeshift variety store in Barangay Paser Pantalan.

Mohammad posted the image to call the attention of bomb experts for immediate disposal of the grenade.

“(We) need bomb experts to safely remove it soonest because it is dangerous,” he said.

As of posting, clearing operations were ongoing.

https://www.pna.gov.ph/articles/1200651