Cop, suspect slain in CDO shootout

CAGAYAN DE ORO CITY, Philippines — A member of the Highway Patrol Group (HPG) and a motorist were killed in a shootout in Barangay Upper Carmen in this city on Thursday.

The fatalities were identified as Senior Police Officer 1 Sergs de Constantine Maceren of the special operations team of the HPG office in Northern Mindanao and Abdulrahim Batawi Adilao.

Initial investigation showed Maceren was with SPO2 Lyndie Baltazar and PO1 Joel Laurente when they flagged down a white Hyundai Accent for its suspicious license plate (ULI-448). 

When cornered near a gasoline station, Adilao reportedly opened fire.

Baltazar was wounded while Adilao’s companion, a certain Joan Gomez, was arrested.

Chief Superintendent Roberto Fajardo, HPG director, said they are investigating if Adilao had links with two men recently arrested by Maceren’s group.