By Teofilo P. Garcia Jr.
ZAMBOANGA CITY, (PNA) -– The government security forces have killed a suspected spotter of the Moro National Liberation Front (MNLF) rebels and captured another while conducting patrol in this city on Monday afternoon.
Another one, however, managed to escape on board a motorcycle and is subject of a police manhunt.
The spotters’ presence at a fruit stand along Don Alfaro Street, Barangay Tetuan, east of this city, were tipped off to the patrolling policemen amid the firefight in the “areas of concerns.”
Police Station 6 commander Chief Insp. Elmer Acuña said the policemen were patrolling when they received report around 5 p.m. Monday about the presence of three suspected MNLF spotters riding-tandem on a motorcycle who stopped at a fruit stand.
When accosted, two of the suspects alighted while one remained on the motorcycle.
While a suspect’s mobile phone is being checked, Acuña said one of them grabbed the firearm of a policeman prompting other policemen to shoot him dead.
Acuña said the confiscated mobile phone contains vital information about the government forces.
Acuña said the other suspect tried to escape but was cornered by policemen. The one on the motorcycle managed to escape during the commotion.