Criminal gang leader shot dead in North Cotabato

NORTH COTABATO, Philippines - Pursuing agents on Wednesday shot dead a criminal gang leader blamed for most motorcycle theft cases in North Cotabato province.

The slain suspect, Ramil Piang, was killed in a brief shootout with policemen in Kabacan town in the third district of North Cotabato.

Senior Superintendent Alex Tagum, director of the North Cotabato provincial police, said operatives were to peacefully arrest Piang and his men in Purok Krislam west of Kabacan but they ran away carrying their guns.

Piang opened fire on pursuing policemen who tried to surround him in a nearby rice field.

“Our men did not have any option but return fire because he shot them first,” Tagum said.

Piang died on the spot from multiple gunshot wounds he sustained in the gunfight.

Piang was also known in Kabacan and nearby North Cotabato towns for his drug trafficking activities.

He was an ambulant dealer of methamphetamine hydrochloride (shabu), vending his illegal merchandise in interior areas in Kabacan.