ALEOSAN, Cotabato — A man listed among the Regional Top 10 Most Wanted Persons was killed in an armed encounter with pursuing police authorities early morning of November 1 in Barangay Dualing, Aleosan, Cotabato.
The suspect, identified only by his alias “Jul,” a resident of Sultan Kudarat, Maguindanao del Norte, was neutralized after allegedly engaging law enforcement operatives in a firefight during a hot pursuit operation.
Initial investigation revealed that the Aleosan Municipal Police Station received a call from a motorcycle theft victim in Barangay Bagolibas, reporting that an armed man wearing a green T-shirt forcibly took his black Honda Click motorcycle at gunpoint before fleeing toward Midsayap.
Responding immediately, joint forces from the Aleosan Police, Regional Intelligence Unit 12 (RIU12), Regional Intelligence Division Tracker Team ECHO, Provincial Intelligence Unit – Cotabato Police Provincial Office (PIU-CPPO), 2nd Cotabato Provincial Mobile Force Company, 1203rd Mobile Company Regional Mobile Force Battalion 12, and the Highway Patrol Group (HPG) launched a coordinated dragnet operation to intercept the suspect.
Around 1:00 a.m., the suspect was spotted passing near a police checkpoint. When authorities attempted to stop him, he allegedly sped away, prompting a chase toward Barangay Dualing. During the pursuit, the suspect reportedly opened fire at the pursuing officers, forcing them to retaliate. The exchange of gunfire resulted in the suspect’s death.
Police said the suspect was brought to a nearby hospital but was declared dead on arrival by attending physicians. Recovered from the scene were the stolen motorcycle and several pieces of evidence now under police custody for documentation and further investigation.
Verification later confirmed that “Jul” had an outstanding warrant of arrest for frustrated murder and was a notorious figure long sought by authorities in the region.
Police Regional Office 12 reaffirmed its commitment to intensify operations against wanted persons and criminal elements under the campaign “Bagong PNP para sa Bagong Pilipinas: Serbisyong Mabilis, Tapat, at Nararamdaman.”
“This successful operation demonstrates our firm resolve to uphold peace and security in Cotabato and ensure that lawless elements are held accountable,” the police statement added.