3 slain in Zamboanga anti-crime ops

ZAMBOANGA CITY, Philippines — Three members of a family were killed while three others were wounded in a police operation against a wanted person in this city on Thursday.

Police identified the fatalities as Jerry Alfad, 52, a member of a village peace council; his son Salam, 12, and nephew Rayyan Hassan, 22.

Rushed to a hospital for treatment of gunshot wounds were Alfad’s wife Sayra, 40; their daughter Saralyn, 23, and niece Mislie, 18.

The victims were reportedly asleep when a series of gunfire hit their house in Barangay Sinunuc at around 1 a.m.

Members of the police regional intelligence division backed by military soldiers were about to serve an arrest warrant against a suspected bandit, identified as Saddam Siddik, when a firefight broke out.

Sensing the presence of the police and the military, two supporters of Siddik reportedly opened fire at the team.

No one was arrested during the operation, but police said they recovered a rifle and a grenade at the scene of the firefight.

A relative of the fatalities claimed the raiding team barged into the house and ordered the victims to drop to the floor before the gunfire broke out.

Residents said Alfad was a good person, noting he was a member of the lupon tagapamayapa. — Emmanuel Tupas