CIDG agent, civilian traffic enforcer killed in shootout

COTABATO CITY— An agent of the Criminal Investigation and Detection Group and a contractual traffic enforcer of a government agency were killed in a shootout in Barangay Santa Cruz in San Jose in Dinagat Islands before dawn Thursday, August 7.

Officials of the Dinagat Islands Police Provincial Office and CIDG’s field unit in the province reported on Friday, August 8, that Patrolman Ferry Jaso and a companion were monitoring the presence in Barangay Santa Cruz of Anjun Casador, who is reportedly keeping unlicensed firearms and is involved in the trafficking of narcotics.

Casador shot Jaso in the head while approaching him on one side of a street in Barangay Santa Cruz, killing him instantly.

Radio reports on Thursday morning stated that Casador was a contractual traffic enforcer of the Land Transportation Office in Dinagat Islands, a component province of Region 13. 

Casador, who grabbed Jaso’s pistol from the ground while trying to flee, was repeatedly shot by Patrolman Leonel Estroso, the slain policeman’s companion, who was only a few meters away.

Casador also died instantly from bullet wounds he sustained in the shootout, according to local executives and members of the multi-sector San Jose Municipal Peace and Order Council.

Municipal and provincial police officials immediately took custody of Estroso for procedural questioning.