CAMP HAMAC, Dipolog City, Zamboanga del Norte—A long-wanted criminal group leader and two of his men were killed during a 30-minute gunfight with policemen last Tuesday dawn at the outskirts of Sibuco town, this province, police said.
A belated report received here by Senior Supt. Edwin C. Wagan, police provincial director, identified the fatalities as Jamaruddin Alih, 45, alias Boy Takas; Danny Kairal, 34, and Nurjin Alih, 26.
The report said Sibuco cops swooped down on Takas’ hideout at Sitio Looc, Barangay Lakiki to serve him a court-issued warrant of arrest for alleged murder, rape, and frustrated murder cases.
Takas, however, resisted. With eight of his followers, opened fire at the law enforcers.
Takas and his two aides sustained gunshot wounds in different parts of their bodies and died on the spot while his other followers fled to a nearby forested area. A policeman, PO1 Usman Iyoh, suffered wounds from a grenade blast.
The report noted that Alih’s group was also involved in other criminal activities—like extortion, illegal drug trade, cattle rustling, and robbery—in several interior municipalities.