2 cops, Marine killed in Zambo shootout

ZAMBOANGA CITY, Philippines - Two police commandos and a Marine were killed when members of two security units engaged in a shootout Tuesday night in a bordering village, west coast of this city, according to security official.

A vendor of balut or boiled duck egg was also wounded during the crossfire in Barangay Labuan shortly after 7 p.m.

City police office director Senior Superintendent Angelito Casimiro identified the fatalities as Police Officer 3 Alkashmir Lipae, Police Officer 1 Muhsin Jainul, both members of the Regional Pubic Safety Battalion 9 (RPSB) and Corporal Jayson Marqueses of the Marine Battalion Landing Team 9 (MBLT).

Casimiro identified the balut vendor hit during the crossfire as Herminio Ardo.

The incident occurred barely few meters away from Police Station 10 in Barangay Labuan.

The killed Marine was immediately rushed to the Labuan District Hospital, just few meters away from the crime scene. 

The police official said the shootout triggered a standoff between the Marines and the RSPB units.

Col. Andrelino Colina, commander of the Joint Task Group Zamboanga, reported that prior to the incident, the Marines and the local police from Police Station 10 were conducting security patrol aboard L300 van. They spotted two persons with firearms on board a motorcycle; one was wearing the upper uniform of RPSB while the other in civilian clothes.

Colina said the local police and the Marines confronted the two personnel, later on found to be assigned with the RPSB in the area.

A young Marine then headed to the detachment of the two RPSB personnel and advised them to be in their proper uniform, citing the heightened security situation and kidnapping incidents in the area.

“However, the two personnel resented and went fully armed to the patrolling joint Marine and police units,” Colina said. “They were reportedly angry and asked the local police and Marines who reported their behavior.”

Colina said verbal tussle occurred and burst of gunfire rang out minutes later, leaving three people dead.

Casimiro said a joint and parallel investigation is being conducted by the CPO special investigation unit and Task Force Zambasulta to determine the cause of the shootout.

“Joint investigation is being conducted assuring the investigation will be objective and fair,” Casimiro said.

Regional Police Office 9 (PRO) Chief Superintendent Miguel Antonio Jr. directed the pullout of the RPSB in the area, which was replaced with members of the Special Weapons and Tactics (SWAT).