Five killed in Cotabato clash as police serve arrest warrants

• Five individuals were killed after allegedly resisting authorities during a warrant operation in Cotabato
• The encounter happened Tuesday in Lower Paatan, Kacaban, according to police and regional reports
• Joint forces from the police and PDEA took part in the operation
• One woman was arrested for alleged violations of dr*g and firearms laws

Five people were killed after an alleged armed confrontation broke out between authorities and a group facing arrest warrants in Kacaban, Cotabato.

The incident occurred when law enforcement officers attempted to serve warrants related to multiple murder cases.

According to a report by Efren Mamac aired on GMA Regional TV One Mindanao on Wednesday, the clash happened Tuesday in the area of Lower Paatan.

Police said the operation was meant to peacefully serve arrest and search warrants but quickly escalated after the suspects allegedly fought back.

Cotabato Police Provincial Office spokesperson Police Lt. James Warren Caang said the operation involved a joint team composed of the Provincial Mobile Force Company, the Kabacan Municipal Police Station, and the Philippine Dru*g Enforcement Agency.

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Authorities said coordination among the units was part of standard procedure due to the seriousness of the charges involved.

Police claimed that instead of submitting to arrest, the suspects allegedly opened fire on the operatives, prompting an exchange of gunfire.

“It resulted to the death of five persons,” says Caang.

He clarified that all five fatalities were the subjects of the arrest warrants who allegedly resisted when the documents were about to be served.

“These individuals were also suspects in previous shooting incidents in the area,” says Caang.

He added that separate search warrants were also issued against several targets for violations of Republic Act 9165, or the Comprehensive Dangerous Dru*gs Act, and Republic Act 10591, or the Comprehensive Firearms and Ammunition Regulation Act.

During the same operation, police arrested one woman. Authorities said she is facing charges related to illegal dru*gs and firearms possession under the same laws cited in the search warrants.

An investigation is ongoing to document the encounter and recover evidence from the scene.

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In other developments, a disturbing video that spread online captured a tense chase involving a married couple in Barangay Maragano, Palapag, on the afternoon of December 12. The footage shows the wife running after her husband while holding a machete, triggering fear and alarm among nearby residents. The confrontation was brought under control when two alert male bystanders intervened, successfully taking the weapon from the woman before the situation escalated into physical harm. Local officials later stepped in to calm both parties, and to prevent further incidents of domestic violence, the couple agreed to a temporary separation as authorities continue to monitor their welfare.

Meanwhile, a routine visit to a beauty salon in Malolos, Bulacan, escalated into a police matter after an Egyptian national allegedly attacked a hairstylist during a service. According to investigators, the suspect became enraged during a professional consultation when the stylist addressed his wife directly regarding her hairstyle. CCTV footage reportedly shows the man’s growing aggression, beginning with him flicking the worker’s face and later returning to slap the stylist on the cheek. The incident, which unfolded in full view of other customers, prompted the victim to take legal action. Determined to pursue justice, the hairstylist has filed a criminal complaint against the foreign national, citing physical assault and workplace harassment.

Source: KAMI.com.gh