Wife of alleged hitman slain, 9 others wounded in Cotabato operation
By Martin Sadongdong
The wife of a gun-for-hire suspect was shot dead while nine others, including a town police chief, were wounded in a law enforcement operation that turned into a bloodbath in Antipas, Cotabato City Friday.
Chief Superintendent Eliseo Tam Rasco, regional director of Soccsksargen Police Regional Office (PRO-12), identified the fatality as Arlene Denosapal, 49, of Sitio Panipasan, Barangay Datu Agod.
Meanwhile, wounded in the operation were Arlene’s husband, Edwin, 54, a gun-for-hire suspect and the subject of the operation; Rolando and Mercedita Bayocboc, 42 and 43, respectively; Forferio Poblico, 66; and Cherry Mae Denosapal.
Also injured were Senior Inspector Bernard Abarquez, chief of police of Antipas Municipal Police Station; PO1 Ubert Colago, SPO1 Albert Tubang and PO3 Nero Antonio Osorio; all members of the Cotabato Provincial Mobile Force Company (CPMFC).
Osorio was brought to Kidapawan Medical Specialist Hospital after he sustained critical gunshot wounds in the abdomen and thighs.
Initial investigation showed that elements of Cotabato police’s provincial intelligence branch, provincial mobile force company, Antipas police and Philippine Army’s 19th Infantry Battalion (19IB) served a search warrant against Edwin, 54, at their house around 1:10 a.m.
The warrant was issued against Edwin by Presiding Judge Arvin Sadiri Balagot, of Regional Trial Court Branch 17, 12th Judicial Region in Kidapawan City, for violation of Republic Act 10591 or the Comprehensive Law on Firearms and Ammunition.
Rasco said Edwin had long been the subject of surveillance operations after they received an intelligence report that he works as a paid assassin.
Accordingly, Edwin’s areas of operation are in North Cotabato and Maguindanao.
However, when the operating troops arrived at the Denosapals’ house, they were allegedly met with gun fire, Rasco said.
Rasco said the joint police and military forces were forced to return fire.
Eventually, Rasco said the troops managed to hit Edwin in the body until he surrendered to the police and military ending the fight.
The gun battle ceased at around 3 a.m., the police said.
The police alleged that Arlene was hit in the exchange of fire.
She was rushed to the North Cotabato Provincial Hospital where she was declared dead on arrival, according to the attending doctor.
Relatives of the Denosapals denied Edwin was a gun-for-hire and slammed the police for the death of Arlene.
Police recovered two units of shotguns and a caliber .45 pistol from the suspects’ possession.
Edwin and his wounded companions were placed under tight watch while they recuperate at the hospital.