Cop guns down kagawad wanted for murder

KORONADAL CITY – A murder suspect who got elected as a barangay kagawad (councilman) in last month’s elections, was gunned down by a policeman in Surallah, South Cotabato Saturday afternoon, police said.

P01 Jericho Magbanua, of the Surallah police, said the victim, Eddie Hallaris, alias Commander Panok, who won as councilman of Barangay Upper Sepaka, had a pending warrant of arrest for a murder case.

Citing a report, Magbanua said Hallaris was shot by P02 Ferdinand Cariño after the former attempted to shoot the latter with a caliber .45 pistol when he tried to arrest him in Barangay Libertad.

Hallaris died on the spot due to multiple gunshot wounds in the head and back.

Recovered from the crime scene were several empty M-16 shells and Hallaris’ pistol, which carries a memorandum receipt reportedly issued by a military official.

Magbanua did not provide further details on the incident.

Reports said Hallaris was riding in a motorcycle owned and driven by a certain Iko Makatigos, a resident of Barangay Moloy, when Cariño allegedly shot him.

Makatigos was reportedly wounded during the shooting and is now confined at the South Cotabato provincial hospital. 

Makatigos told Radyo Bombo Marbel here that Hallaris just hitched a ride on his way to a meeting with a certain Maj. Esteva to discuss his surrender.

Surallah Mayor Romulo Solivio said he will order a thorough investigation into the shooting to dispel speculations.