Gun runner killed in raid

ZAMBOANGA CITY, Philippines - Police intelligence units killed a suspected gun runner and arrested two others during a raid Tuesday in a barangay in Diplahan, Zamboanga Sibugay, a security official said on Thursday.

Senior Inspector Joseph Ortega, spokesman of Police Regional Office 9 (PRO), said the personnel of the Western Mindanao Criminal Investigation and Detection Unit (WMCIDU), backed by the forces of Diplahan Police Station raided the warehouse of Jovel Guilermo Silim alias Burato at Barangay Kauswagan to serve the warrant of arrest for violation of the Republic Act 10591, the implementing rules and regulation of comprehensive law on firearms and ammunition.

Ortega said the Silim resisted arrest and fired on the raiding team sparking a brief shootout that killed him.

Two of Silim’s companions identified as Jimmy Nisnisan and Rudy Superable were also arrested.

The police rushed Silim to the nearby hospital but died while undergoing treatment.

Ortega said police who conducted the search at the warehouse used by Silim recovered several firearms including three units of M-16 rifles with serial numbers and one without serial number, a Carbine rifle, cal. 22 rifle, a cal. 40 pistol, one cal. 45 pistol, a 12 gauge shotgun, an Armscor Air Rifle, homemade airsoft, a .45 Caliber pistol; and four sachets of shabu, aluminum foil and other drug paraphernalia.