Two bodyguards of a local trader were killed and two policemen were wounded in a shootout in Makilala town, North Cotabato on Thursday. According to Lt. Juaren Caang, spokesperson for the North Cotabato Police Provincial Office, the incident occurred when policemen serving a search warrant for firearms at the house of agricultural trader Ramon Floresta were fired upon by his two bodyguards, both former soldiers. A gun battle ensued, resulting in the confiscation of two caliber .45 pistols, a Tactical-4V rifle, two M16 rifles, two fragmentation grenades, and ammunition. Floresta, who was arrested, denied ownership of the seized firearms. Meanwhile, several Bureau of Immigration personnel in Davao City are under investigation for their alleged involvement in human trafficking. The probe was initiated after three women were off-loaded from a Singapore-bound flight at Francisco Bangoy International Airport due to incomplete and improper documents. During interrogation, the women allegedly identified BI personnel as their facilitators. In Bukidnon, four communist rebels, including a woman, were killed in an encounter in Impasugong on Wednesday. Brig. Gen. Siegfred Tubalado, commander of the Army’s 403rd Infantry Brigade, confirmed that combined forces from the 3rd Scout Ranger Battalion, First Special Forces Battalion, and two Army battalions engaged the rebels in Barangay Dumalaguing. An Air Force helicopter was used to transport the deceased rebels to Malaybalay City.
