Kabacan police tightens security after notorious thieves' fall

NORTH COTABATO, Philippines - The municipal police in Kabacan tightened security in the municipality to prevent possible retaliations by criminal gangs for Monday’s death of two notorious motorcycle thieves killed by by policemen in a shootout.

Police operatives first tried to peacefully arrest the suspects, Esmael Lucas, 37, and Bakaran Baligan, 30, while in the act of stealing a motorcycle parked along a highway.

Instead of yielding, the stubborn Lucas and Baligan resisted and drew handguns tucked in their waists and opened fire at the policemen, provoking a firefight that resulted to their deaths.

Chief Inspector Jordine Maribojo of the Kabacan police told reporters the slain thieves were among the 10 most wanted men in the municipality.

The suspects were also into drug trafficking and even doubled as “guns-for-hire” when commissioned to kill for a fee.

Maribojo said they have turned over the cadavers of Lucas and Baligan to relatives for them to be given decent burials.

Maribojo said policemen have been deployed in the surroundings of Kabacan to prevent possible retaliations by their accomplices.