A wanted person reportedly linked to a major drug ring was shot dead by policemen who were serving warrants of arrest for murder and other cases in Barangay Tanuel, Datu Odin Sinsuat, Maguindanao del Norte, on Wednesday morning, November 5.
Local officials, including traditional Moro datus, told reporters at noon Thursday that personnel of the Datu Odin Sinsuat Municipal Police Station, led by Lt. Col. Esmael Madin, and operatives from various units of the Police Regional Office-Bangsamoro Autonomous Region, were supposed to peacefully arrest Aron Watamama Makalanga. However, the suspect reportedly drew his gun and opened fire, prompting the police to retaliate and fatally shoot him.
Makalanga was wanted for murder and other criminal charges pending before Regional Trial Court Branch 13 in Cotabato City.
Local executives, including senior members of the Datu Odin Sinsuat Municipal Peace and Order Council, said Madin’s team also arrested former barangay official Bayan Salik for allegedly harboring Makalanga in Sitio Dikogen, Barangay Tanuel, despite knowing he was wanted for high-profile crimes.
Datu Odin Sinsuat is one of 12 towns in Maguindanao del Norte, a component province of the Bangsamoro Autonomous Region in Muslim Mindanao (BARMM).
Police Brig. Gen. Jaysen De Guzman, director of PRO-BAR, said Salik is now in custody and will be charged with obstruction of justice and harboring a wanted person.
According to De Guzman, the operation was launched after vigilant residents and Datu Odin Sinsuat Mayor Abdulmain Abas and Vice Mayor Bobsteel Sinsuat reported Makalanga’s presence in Sitio Dikogen.
Police recovered from the scene a 5.56 Bushmaster assault rifle, a shotgun, two pistols, and several heat-sealed sachets of suspected shabu, all found near where Makalanga was shot. Barangay officials witnessed the recovery of the items.