3 suspects in radioman’s slay killed

ZAMBOANGA CITY, Philippines — At least three suspects in the killing of a radio broadcaster in Labangan, Zamboanga del Sur on Saturday were killed in an alleged shootout with police officers. 

The fatalities were identified as Butchoy Abdul, a resident of Tukuran town; Bakar Inok and Salik Tabina, both of Labangan town.

Arnaiz Kabaro, alias Kabeb, who was wounded in the gunfight, is under hospital arrest. 

The suspects were neutralized before midnight in Barangay Dipaya also on Saturday, Chief Inspector Helen Galvez, Zamboanga peninsula police spokesperson, said yesterday.  

Carlos Matas, 61, a retired soldier who worked as a volunteer broadcaster of dxCA FM based in Pagadian City, was killed in an ambush in Purok 2, Barangay Noburan.

Galvez said personnel of the 53rd Infantry Battalion and local police recovered an M14 rifle, a sub-machinegun  and a caliber .45 pistol from the fatalities.

Senior Inspector Aiko Tesoro, deputy chief of the Zamboanga del Sur police intelligence unit, was wounded in the gunfight with the suspects.

Police Officer 2 Welito Nuena said they are looking at a grudge as the motive for the killing. Kabaro told police that Matas had tried to kill them in an ambush on May 10.