Murder suspect killed after resisting arrest

KIDAPAWAN CITY -- A murder suspect was killed by a police officer when he resisted arrest in Arakan town in North Cotabato around 9 a.m. Saturday, police said.

Killed was Jubert Baylon, 33, of Barangay Ganatan, Arakan. He was also charged with murder and frustrated murder in 2011.

Senior Inspector Rolly Oranza, Arakan police chief, said Police Officer (PO) 1 Cabuyao of the Alert Team shot Baylon when he attempted to shoot PO1 Ante, also one of the arresting policemen.

Baylon was carrying a caliber .357 revolver, Oranza said.

Cabuyao and his team reportedly went to Baylon's place in the Poblacion after they received reports from a certain Mac-Mac Centena that he saw the suspect roaming around the village with a gun tucked in his waist.

Centena, son of a former police officer, survived from stab wounds allegedly inflicted against him by the suspect in 2011.

Oranza said the suspect immediately left the village after the incident.

Before stabbing Centena, Baylon reportedly figured in a shooting incident where he killed his victim. The relatives of the slain victim, however, agreed to settle the case amicably, reports said.

On Saturday, Centena again saw Baylon after months of hiding and sought assistance from the police.

"When our men arrived at the scene, Baylon resisted arrest and tried to shoot PO1 Ante, which drove P01 Cabuyao to fire his issued M16 armalite rifle. Baylon was hit on his stomach," Oranza said.

Baylon was immediately brought to Cotabato Provincial Hospital in Kidapawan City but died few hours later due to blood loss.

Oranza said they already informed Baylon's family and relatives about what happened.

"We did what we can to help Baylon survived. But the situation was already beyond our control. We were told there was no enough supply of type AB blood from the bank," Oranza said.

The Arakan police have already placed Baylon's gun, including the issued rifle of Po1 Cabuyao, at the North Cotabato police crime laboratory for ballistic examination. (Malu Cadeliña Manar)