Cop wounded, gunman slain in Sultan Kudarat highway shootout
CRIME SCENE An investigator surveys the area along the national highway in Isulan, Sultan Kudarat, where a shootout occurred at 1:30 a.m. on Sunday. The gunfight wounded a highway patrol police officer who, in turn, killed one of his unidentified attackers. —Isulan Municipal Police
ISULAN, SULTAN KUDARAT, BARMM, Philippines — A police officer was wounded while an unidentified gunman was killed on Saturday as municipal police and highway patrol group personnel were preparing to put up checkpoints for the simultaneous implementation of the election gun ban set to start on Sunday.
Police Lt. Col. Julius Malcontento, Isulan municipal police station chief, said Police Senior Master Sgt. Jonathan Wagia, a member of the Sultan Kudarat Provincial Highway Patrol Unit (PHPU), was injured when he was attacked by a still-unidentified gunman while onboard a white Suzuki minivan on its way to an impounding area.
The shootout happened along the highway between Isulan and Esperanza towns at 11:30 p.m. on Saturday.
Malcontento said that Wagia, who was currently being treated in a local hospital, was with a team from the Sultan Kudarat municipal police station. While setting up a checkpoint, the team noticed a minivan that has no license plate approaching their location.
When checked, the van’s driver could not produce the needed documents, prompting the team to impound the vehicle. Wagia boarded the minivan to escort it to PHPU headquarters in Tacurong City.
Article continues after this advertisementBut at 11:30 p.m., two men on a motorbike overtook the minivan at Barangay Impao, Isulan town, and fired at Wagia who was seated at the back portion of the vehicle.
Article continues after this advertisementAlthough injured, Wagia managed to return fire, killing one of the two suspects, Malcontento said.
The minivan driver and the other suspect fled the scene as Isulan municipal police and PHPU personnel responded to Wagia’s call for help. Wagia was rushed to the provincial hospital in Isulan.
Malcontento added that police had recovered vital evidence inside the van and are now pursuing the suspects. —Edwin O. Fernandez
