From the Philippine News Agency (Jul 17, 2024): 3 gunmen in S. Cotabato die in shootout with police (By Edwin Fernandez)
Google map of Polomolok town, South Cotabato.
KORONADAL CITY – Three armed men died while a police officer was injured during a shootout in Polomolok, South Cotabato, on Tuesday afternoon.
Major Johnny Rick Medel, Polomolok municipal police chief, identified the fatalities as Ronnie Romano, 51, Harold Pasaquian, 40, and Yok Dajay, 30, all of Antipas, North Cotabato.
“We received reports from civilians about the presence of armed men roaming in their farms, so we immediately responded,” Medel said in a radio interview here on Wednesday.
Medel said one of the gunmen, Nestor Espelon, 56, a farmer from Barangay Palkan, was arrested while four others managed to elude arrest.
Police Chief Master Sgt. Jonathan Boiser of the Polomolok police force was slightly injured.
As the police, backed by Army Special Forces, were approaching the village, the gunmen opened fire, triggering a shootout. Police found two Carbine rifles, an M16 rifle, a .45-caliber pistol, and ammunition.
Medel said the armed men belong to an unidentified private armed group.
Barangay Palkan Chairperson Avelina Rencio said the gunmen were believed to have been hired by one of the families locked in a land dispute in the village.
One of the claimants of about 10 hectares of farm lot was seen allowing gunmen to enter his farm the past three days, which led civilians to alert the police.
https://www.pna.gov.ph/articles/1229146
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