Zambo Norte’s most wanted killed

MANILA, Philippines - Zamboanga del Norte’s most wanted person was shot dead in an alleged encounter with policemen on Wednesday.

The shootout occurred when Heronides Bacabis, with aliases of Inting and Commander Cordova, shot at a team of policemen who tried to serve an arrest warrant just before 5 p.m. on Wednesday, said Chief Superintendent Fernando Mendez, Intelligence Group director.

Bacabis died from multiple gunshot wounds to the body. Authorities recovered two hand grenades and a caliber .38 revolver from Bacabis.

Senior Superintendent Ronald Lee, chief of the IG’s counter-intelligence division, said Bacabis was the prime suspect in the beheading of Dodoy Rafols, a “habal-habal” driver in Barangay Panabutan, Sirawai last Nov. 5 and the murders of Marvin Maglinao in Nov. 6, 2007; Allan Suan on Nov. 18, 2008; Maximo Asan on April 2, 2008, and Jonathan Ucab on July 29, 2008.

Bacabis was also a suspect in the robbery of Dindo Bus Transit in March 2006; extortion activities in Siocon, Baliguian, Gutalac and Labason towns and on fishermen in the coastal barangays of Alegria, Mamad and Tamao in Baliguian.

The Regional Intelligence Unit 9, led by Chief Inspector Christopher Bermudez, launched Project “Hook” last Dec. 15 to neutralize Bacabis.