Anti-narcotic cop chased, killed by gunmen

KIDAPAWAN CITY – Gunmen shot dead a policeman assigned with the anti-narcotics unit after chasing him in North Cotabato’s Kabacan town, officials said Wednesday.

Officials said the 35-year old Staff Sergeant Abejay Derilo Dandan, assigned with the Provincial Drug Enforcement Unit, was killed Tuesday evening. Dandan was driving his car when chased by gunmen onboard a pickup truck and a sports utility vehicle along the national highway in the village of Katidtuan. 

“Based on the investigation, the victim was travelling from Kabacan going towards Kidapawan City on board his black Toyota Innova when he was chased and upon reaching the place of incident, he was shot several times by unidentified suspects using caliber 5.56mm on board gray pick-up and a sports utility vehicle,” said Col. Harold Ramos, the provincial police chief, adding, the attackers escaped after the shooting. 

It was unknown whether Dandan was able to fight back before he was killed, but Ramos said policemen who responded to the scene recovered the victim’s weapons – a Galil rifle, a Glock 17 pistol, and three rifle magazines and three pistol magazines, all loaded with bullets.

Ramos condemned the murder and appealed to the public for any information on the identity of the gunmen. “The Cotabato Police Provincial Office strongly condemns the shooting to death of SSg Abejay Derilo Dandan. We are appealing to everyone who might have any information that may lead to the immediate identification and arrest of the suspects, kindly coordinate with us and reach us through our hotline numbers. We are extending our condolences to the bereaved family of one of our snappy comrades,” he said. 

No individual or group claimed responsibility for the killing and the motive of the murder is still unknown. (Mindanao Examiner)