Joint police and military operations against individuals with standing warrants of arrest in Banisilan, Cotabato, led to armed encounters that left four members of a lawless group dead and resulted in the recovery of several firearms, the Philippine National Police said.
Joint elements of the Banisilan Municipal Police Station, Regional Intelligence Division, Cotabato Police Provincial Office, and the Philippine Army’s 33rd Infantry Battalion served multiple warrants of arrest against members of a lawless group in Sitio Kinamuran, Barangay Pantar, Banisilan.
The operation targeted a group led by alias “Kumander Tanda,” who was the subject of several warrants for cases including direct assault, attempted murder, double frustrated murder, and multiple attempted murders.
Other members of the group were also subjects of warrants for alleged violations of Republic Act Nos. 9165, 9516, and 10591.
During the operation, armed individuals allegedly fired at the operating troops, triggering an exchange of gunfire. Three casualties from the armed group were reported, while authorities recovered two M16 rifles and one magazine-fed shotgun from the area.
A follow-up operation in Sitio Kalantay, Barangay Pantar, Banisilan, resulted in another armed encounter between government forces and members of the group.
One of the wanted individuals, identified through the alias “Wowie Tidong,” died during the police operation. He was facing charges related to alleged violations of Republic Act Nos. 9516 and 10591.
Authorities recovered one M16 rifle with an inserted magazine, live ammunition, and fired cartridge cases from the area.