7 killed in Maguindanao ‘shootout’

RADJAH BUAYAN, Maguindanao, Philippines — Seven persons were killed in an alleged shootout with law enforcers in Barangay Mileb in this town before dawn yesterday.

Agents of the police Criminal Investigation and Detection Group-Bangsamoro Autonomous Region in Muslim Mindanao (BARMM) were serving an arrest warrant for frustrated murder and robbery with homicide for Torque Utto Latip when the suspect and his companions reportedly opened fire.

Two of the fatalities were identified as Latip and Haron Akmad, said to be a member of the 105th Base Command of the Moro Islamic Liberation Front.

A member of the Regional Mobile Force Battalion was wounded in the gunfight.

Brig. Gen. Arthur Cabalona, BARMM police director, said the operation was launched after villagers reported the presence of Latip in Sitio Tina.

Police said two sniper rifles, two .30-caliber rifles, an M16, an M203, an M14 and a 9mm pistol were recovered from the fatalities.