FOUR persons died while a policeman was injured in a firefight that erupted while an arrest warrant was being served on a murder suspect in Zamboanga City yesterday morning.
The fatalities were identified as Patti Abdurahim, Tato Saliento, Jamiri Abdurahim and Abdulbakil Abdurahim, residents of Barangay Recodo in Zamboanga City.
Injured was S/Sgt. Larry Balasabas, detailed with the Station 9 of the Zamboanga City police station.
Balasabas and other policemen swooped down on the residence of Nurhassan Jalao in Purok 6, Barangay Recodo at around 3:45 a.m. to serve an arrest warrant against him for murder.
Police said Jalao and his companions, Patti and Saliento, opened fire at the cops while they were approaching Jalao’s shanty.
The firefight led to the death of Patti and Saliento while Jalao managed to escape. Jalao is now the subject of follow-up operations.
Police said Jalao, while making his escape, drew fire from the policemen, resulting in the death of Jamiri and Abdulbakil. Police said Jamiri and Abdulbakil “happened to bumped (into) the subject person in the course of his escape.”
Police later found out that Jamiri also has a standing warrant for murder.
Police recovered at the scene, a cal. 45 pistol, a cal. 38 revolver, ammunition and a hand grenade.
Meanwhile, three seamen died due to alleged suffocation in a motor tanker, named Andina 200, anchored off Barangay Camastilisan in Calaca, in Laguna on Monday.
Police identified the victims as Enrique Jay Gaspado, 24, of Valenzuela City; John Rey Illustrisimo, 22, of Palawan; and Ryan Jay Bantilan, 25 of Eastern Samar.
Police said the three probably suffocated while cleaning an empty oil tank. They were brought to the Ospital ng Calaca where they were declared dead upon arrival.
