2 cops, Marine slain in Zamboanga shootout

ZAMBOANGA CITY, Philippines – Two policemen and a Marine were killed in an alleged shootout at a checkpoint in Barangay Labuan here Tuesday night, a security official said yesterday.

Zamboanga police office director Senior Superintendent Angelito Casimiro identified the fatalities as Police Officer 3 Alkashmir Lipae and PO1 Muhsin Jainul – members of the Regional Public Safety Battalion (RPSB) 9 – and Cpl. Jayson Marqueses, a member of the Marine Battalion Landing Team 9.

Casimiro said balut vendor Herminio Ardo was also wounded in the crossfire.

Col. Andrelino Colina, commander of Joint Task Group Zamboanga, said initial investigation showed the shootout occurred after a team of policemen and Marine soldiers manning the checkpoint pulled over two armed men on a motorcycle.

Colina said the motorcycle-riding men turned out to be RPSB personnel, but only one was wearing his proper uniform.

Marqueses reportedly accosted Jainul and Lipae, which angered the policemen.

Regional Police Office 9 Chief Superintendent Miguel Antonio Jr. ordered the pullout of RPSB personnel in the area and replaced them with members of the Special Weapons and Tactics team.

An investigation is underway. – Roel Pareño, Cecille Suerte Felipe