4 dead, cop hurt in Zamboanga shootout

ZAMBOANGA CITY, Philippines —  Four persons were killed while a police officer was wounded in a shootout in this city yesterday.

Maj. Ramon Bautista, Station 9 chief, identified the fatalities as Patti Abdurahim, his brother Abdulbakil, their father Jamiri and Jimboy Saliento, all residents of Barangay Recodo.

Bautista said S/Sgt. Larry Pugoy Balasabas remains in critical condition in a hospital.

Police said Balasabas was shot as he entered the house of the suspects to serve an arrest warrant.

Nur Jalaw, the subject of the warrant, managed to escape after he shot dead two of his companions he mistook as police officers.

“The two persons that Jalaw shot and killed turned out to be the father and elder brother of Patti, who were tagged in a shooting incident and is wanted for murder,” Bautista said.

A .38-caliber revolver, a .45-caliber pistol and a hand grenade were among those recovered from the fatalities.

In Cotabato City, Abdulhamid Bandal was killed in an alleged shootout with anti-narcotics agents in Cacar area, also yesterday.

Juvenal Azurin, Philippine Drug Enforcement Agency-Bangsamoro Autonomous Region in Muslim Mindanao director, said a caliber .45 pistol and P340,000 worth of shabu were recovered from the fatality. – John Unson