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KIDAPAWAN CITY (MindaNews / 26 June) – Elements of the Criminal Investigation and Detection Team (CIDT) in North Cotabato and the Kidapawan City PNP killed in a shootout a suspected member of a drug syndicate operating in Davao del Norte and other parts of Mindanao early evening Monday, police said.
SPO1 Mardonni Alegarbes, of the investigation unit of the Kidapawan police, identified the slain suspect as Dodong Catiz, allegedly a member of the notorious Joel Baguio Criminal Gang of Davao del Norte.
The Baguio syndicate, according to intelligence reports, is engaged in gun for hire, gun running, and drug trafficking.
Alegarbes said the CIDG Cotabato operatives spotted Catiz at Barangay Kalaisan, Kidapawan City, and immediately launched an operation against him.
The suspect, Alegarbes added, engaged the police in shootout that resulted to his death.
The suspect was immediately rushed to the Kidapawan City Hospital by workers of the Emergency Call 911 of the Kidapawan City Government but failed to reach the hospital alive, Alegarbes said.
The CIDG and PNP recovered from the suspect a caliber .38 revolver with ammunition; a fired cartridge of caliber .22 Magnum with four ammunition; and a fired cartridge of a caliber .22 revolver.
The guns and ammunition are placed under the custody of CIDG Cotabato in Kidapawan City. (Malu Cadelina Manar / MindaNews)