Iloilo's most wanted man dies in shootout

CEBU, Philippines - After eluding arrest for more than four years, Iloilo's most wanted person was finally caught but eventually killed in a shootout with police forces around 5:30 a.m. yesterday at Barangay Rosario in Dumangas town of Iloilo.

Eliseo Mabayag, 28, a native of Badiangan, Iloilo, died when he resisted and fought it out with combined forces of the Iloilo Police Provincial Office (IPPO) Intelligence Branch, the 3rd Maneuver Platoon, and the police stations of Dumangas, Barotac Nuevo and Lambunao towns.

Senior Supt. Cornelio Salinas, Iloilo Police provincial director, said the policemen were about to serve 11 warrants of arrest against Mabayag when the incident happened.

The arresting teams approached Mabayag's lair, identified themselves as police officers and ordered him to surrender. "But the subject rushed out of his house and opened fire at our men prompting the latter to return fire," Salinas said.

Mabayag succumbed to gunshot injuries on his chest. Recovered from his possession were a Thompson machine pistol, a .45-caliber pistol, and assorted magazines and ammunition.

Mabayag was the leader of the notorious Magkal Criminal Gang, named as such for being like the magkal snake that is slippery. He was accused of highway robberies, murder and for being a hired gun. — (FREEMAN)