The Police Regional Office-Zamboanga (PRO-9) has formed a special investigation task group to probe the service of arrest warrants that ended with the death of three people in Barangay Sinunuc, Zamboanga City dawn on Thursday, April 23, 2026.

Police claimed that an exchange of fire broke out when they were about to serve multiple arrest warrants for murder and frustrated murder on a certain member of an armed group who they said was monitored in the area.

They said the operating team introduced themselves as police officers but unidentified individuals reportedly opened fire, prompting them to retaliate in self-defense.

“When they were fired upon, they just employed necessary and reasonable force. They just fired back pero matagal yung palitan ng putok. Tumagal siya ng more or less five minutes,” PRO-9 Spokesperson, Major Shella Chang, said.

PRO-9 said that during the armed encounter, three people died and one was injured, not three as it reported earlier.

Police also said that the subject of the warrants reportedly managed to escape and is now being pursued.

JUSTICE

But the family of those who died is calling for justice, believing that the incident was not a shootout but was intentional.

“Pag-open ng pintuan walang kahit anung sinabi pinatay agad… hindi shootout… kung shootout sana, kahit isa lang, eh… lahat sila diyan, pati yung babae, pati bata,” a member of the family of the deceased said.

The barangay also said the possibility of mistaken identity cannot be ruled out just yet.

“Posibilidad, mistaken identity,” Barangay Sinunuc Chairwoman, Pilarica Ledesma, said.

Because of this, PRO-9 has activated SITG Alfad to ensure an impartial investigation into the incident under review.

“The Criminal Investigation and Detection Group has been directed to conduct sworn statement-taking of all involved personnel. At the same time, the Regional Forensic Unit 9 are carrying out paraffin and ballistic examinations to establish the facts based on forensic evidence,” PRO-9 said.

The Task Force Zamboanga was also requested to present all police personnel involved to ensure their availability for proper examination.

“Police Regional Office 9 assures the public that we are conducting a thorough and impartial investigation regarding this incident, with strict adherence to the Rule of Law. We remain committed to upholding human rights and ensuring transparency and accountability in all investigative actions,” PRO-9 added.

Meanwhile, the city government said close coordination with all agencies concerned is ongoing to establish a clear and accurate details surrounding the incident, which claimed the lives of Lupong Tagapamayapa member Jerry Alfad, 52, his 12-year-old son, and one other individual.

The city government said three others were injured.