TWO men wanted for murder and a cohort were shot dead by operatives after they resisted arrest and fired back at authorities, injuring two SWAT personnel in a subdivision in Tagum City Friday night.
Tagum City police chief Colonel Wildemar Tiu said a joint operation by the Davao Del Norte Police Office was conducted Friday to arrest Rozendel A. Canete and Norman Saquin, both wanted for two counts of murder.
Tiu said the police were trying to serve a warrant of arrest against them inside a residence in Camella, Barangay Visayan, Tagum past 5 pm Friday, January 31, when the suspects resisted and fired guns at the arresting officers.
Canete and his companion identified as Renz Balmaceda managed to flee while Saquin who suffered a gunshot wound in the body was captured after trading shots with the authorities at the second floor of the said residence.
He was brought to Davao Regional Medical Center for treatment but was declared dead later. Canete who was cornered later in a vacant lot was killed after an encounter.
Balmaceda who was cornered nearby a creek was also shot dead. However two operatives identified as PSSG Evan Tapayan and Police Corporal Jayson Baliad were injured during the encounter.
Investigation showed that police locked down the entire subdivision and prevented the residents from coming in and going out for five hours during the operation and encounter.