A police Special Action Force (SAF) trooper was killed while fourteen others were wounded in a shootout between former Maimbung, Sulu vice mayor Pando Mudjasan&rsquo;s followers, and government forces on June 24, the Philippine National Police (PNP) said Sunday.&nbsp;
In a statement, the PNP identified the fatality as Patrolman Regim Gacod, a member of the 7SAB unit, who was declared dead on arrival in&nbsp; Maimbung Hospital following&nbsp;the incident that occurred in Barangay Bualo Lipid. Another dead body was recovered by authorities in the area.&nbsp;
The shootout wounded Police Captain Ergie Wanawan; Police Corporals Nelvin Roble, Butz Lenard Bakidan, Jayson Cabalquinto, Jerwin Tongala, John Lord Paasa, Simon Ligmayo, and Vileo Raven Jariolne; Staff Sergeants Julakbar Jahani and Jadier Alfad; Patrolmen Jasper Massagan and Jason Dacio; and a member of 41st Infantry Battalion.
Based on the PNP's report, a combined security force of police and soldiers carried out an operation in Barangay Bualo Lipid to serve search and arrest warrants against Mudjasan and his associates, ensuing in a fierce firefight around 7:30 AM.&nbsp;
Mudjasan, a former vice mayor of Maimbung, is wanted for frustrated murder, double murder, multiple murders, and illegal possession of explosives.
He eluded arrest after being alerted early on in the fight, which ended around 5:30 PM.&nbsp;
All wounded personnel were immediately rushed to undisclosed medical facilities.&nbsp;
Recovered from the operation were one rifle, four magazines, assorted ammunition, and other personal items, which were all brought to Criminal Investigation and Detection Group Provincial Field Unit 9 for proper documentation and disposition.

you might like

1 trooper dead, 14 others wounded in Sulu shootout