South Cotabato gang leader falls

KORONADAL CITY — Police intelligence operatives and members of the 1204th and 1205th Provincial Police Mobile Group (PPMG) of South Cotabato arrested the "most wanted" gang leader here during an operation in the outskirts of T’boli town.

Senior Superintendent Getulio Napeñas, provincial police chief, identified the suspect as Alex Labuyo, who was allegedly responsible for the series of robbery and extortion incidents in the province.

Napeñas said Labuyo is being hunted by the police for multiple attempted murders, two counts of murder and attempted robbery with homicide.

Labuyo was also charged for violating PD 1866, otherwise known as the law on the Illegal Possession of Firearms.

Napeñas said Labuyo was placed under surveillance in T’boli town after police received a tip that he frequently visits his family in Barangay Lamhaku.

With the help of the T’boli police station, the raiding team, led by Senior Inspector Michael Lebanan, tracked down Labuyo and arrested him.

Labuyo was shot by one of the cops and was brought to the South Cotabato Provincial Hospital. — Ramil Bajo