A SUSPECTED hired assassin was killed in a shootout with policemen in the province of Zamboanga del Norte, the police reported Monday, May 21.
Chief Inspector Helen Galvez, Police Regional Office-Zamboanga Peninsula information officer, identified the slain suspect as Jerry Delmonte Palma, 45, a resident of the village of New Lebangon, Polanco, Zamboanga del Norte.
Galvez said Palma was killed in a shootout with policemen of the Regional Mobile Force Battalion-9 (RMFB-9) around 11:35 p.m. Sunday, May 20, along the provincial road in the boundary of Delapa and Sipaloc villages in the town of Sibutad.
Galvez said prior to the shootout, the Provincial Intelligence Branch of the Zamboanga del Norte police office received information that a "gun-for-hire" (hired assassin) was monitored in the village of Sipaloc, Sibutad.
She said this prompted the RMFB-9 to set up a checkpoint in the boundary of Delapa and Sipaloc villages.
The shootout ensued as the suspect, while driving a motorcycle, pulled a handgun and opened fire while trying to evade the checkpoint, she added.
She said the policemen returned fire, resulting in the killing of Palma.
Galvez said the policemen recovered from Palma a caliber .38 revolver with ammunition, three identification cards showing the suspect was a government confidential agent and "Lambat Sibat" volunteer, cellular phone, a motorcycle and P1,000 cash consisting of 10 P100 bills. (SunStar Philippines)