13 people die in Maguindanao clash during law-enforcement op

Thirteen people were killed and four others wounded on Saturday in an armed clash that erupted when police elements serving an arrest warrant were met with resistance from the subject and his group in Sultan Kudarat, Maguindanao.

In a report, the Criminal Investigation and Detection Group-Bangsamoro Autonomous Region in Muslim Mindanao (CIDG-BARMM) said 13 individuals and four others were wounded in  the gun battle that ensued when police authorities served a warrant for the arrest of Barangay Limbo Chairman Pendatun Kato Talusan of Sultan Kudarat at about 3 a.m.

But Talusan and his brothers resisted arrest resulting in the armed clash that lasted about six hours.

One of the arresting policemen was badly hit in the neck, while three others were injured and brought to the Cotabato Sanitarium hospital in the town, the CIDG-BARMM report indicated.

Reinforcements came and authorities managed to penetrate the target house of the Talusans at around 7 a.m.

Photo by Ferdinandh Cabrera

Earlier, a report of dzBB's Jhomer Apresto on Dobol B sa News TV said that fatality count from the clash rose to more than 10.

According to the CIDG's follow-up report, the cops  served arrest and search warrants as the Talusans had cases of double frustrated murder, robbery and homicide.

Moreover, the CIDG said the Talusan group, with sub-leader Abdullah Talusan, is notorious for a series of shooting incidents in Sultan Kudarat and Cotabato City that target police and army personnel.

Further, authorities said the group was also engaged in illegal drug trading, carnapping, robbery, and extortion.

Families of the slain suspects have not yet given their statement regarding the police allegations. —with Jamil Santos/LBG, GMA News