Cops kill private armed group chief in Kalinga

LA TRINIDAD, Benguet – Policemen killed Kalinga private armed group leader Geofrey Banya-ao in a firefight with his group the other day in a remote hinterland village in Kalinga.

Banya-ao’s brother Alfred was also wounded in the skirmishes but was able to flee together with other members of the criminal gang.

The group leader, hunted for murder and frustrated murder, tried to fight it out with special units of policemen who served a warrant of arrest to the fugitive in his lair in Mt. Balaug, Tanudan town, said Cordillera police director Chief Supt. Benjamin Magalong.

One policeman was also wounded in the firefight.

Magalong said the Cordillera police will hike its drive against private armed groups in the region and account all loose firearms ahead of the 2013 polls.

Earlier,  Abra’s top most wanted private armed group leader Prudencio Britanico, Jr. was also cornered in Manila with his aide.