COTABATO CITY May 4 (PNA) – The suspects in a big time illegal drug trade here initiated the shootout that left four people dead, including two children, officials said today.
Senior Supt. Agustin Tello, Maguindanao police provincial director, said the three suspects, who belonged to the outlawed Bangsamoro Islamic Freedom Fighters (BIFF), initiated the shooting while government forces were serving the search warrants against them in Barangay Panadtaban, Raja Buayan, Maguindanao on Tuesday afternoon.
“The suspects fired the first shot,” Tello said, citing reports from police units involved in the anti-drug operation.
This was corroborated by Army Capt. John Arvin Encinas, spokesperson of the Army’s 6th Infantry Division.
Citing reports from military units accompanying the police, Encinas said the soldiers surrounded the suspected drug den in Barangay Panadtaban while the police were serving the warrants against Wally “Akung” Akil Utto, Ruben Balintutik and Kandaw Utto. Utto was found dead a few meters from the suspected drug den.
Encinas said the suspects, sensing that government forces were surrounding the suspected drug den, lobbed hand grenades and opened fire using an Uzi submachine gun at the raiding team.
“That triggered the brief firefight,” Encinas told reporters.
Raja Buayan Mayor Zamsamin Ampatuan condemned the act of the suspects “for disregarding the safety of children” when they resisted arrest.
Killed in the shootout were Minah Baluntintic and her children Hassan, 5, and Maharba, 3. Minah is the wife of Ruben Baluntintic, one of the subjects of the search warrant.
Police said he escaped with injuries and is now hiding.
Ampatuan said Baluntintic is known in the village as a big time drug pusher and operates a drug den with civilians, lawless elements and even minors as his clients.
Ampatuan said he already sent feelers to the suspect long before the bloody encounter to convince him to surrender and mend ways. His efforts fell on deaf ears.(EOF/PNA)
