COTABATO CITY, Philippines – An alleged leader of a criminal syndicate was killed in an encounter with Marine soldiers in Palimbang, Sultan Kudarat on Wednesday.
Lt. Colonel Chute Adecer, chief of the Marine’s 7th Infantry Battalion (IB), said Ibrahim Dayao, alias Commander Kumao, and his men opened fire on a group of soldiers who were patrolling in Barangay Baluan.
Adecer said the Marines were responding to a report about the presence of armed men in Sitio Lagaton.
Dayao and his men were allegedly wanted for cattle theft, extortion and armed robbery.
Dayao’s men retreated after seeing their leader killed.
The soldiers recovered beside the suspect’s body an M-14 assault rifle, a rocket-propelled grenade, a pair of two-way radios and combat uniforms.