A MEMBER of a crime syndicate was killed in a joint police and military law enforcement operation in Zamboanga del Norte on Monday, April 8.

Julmin Mulok, an alleged contract killer and a member of the Muloc crime syndicate, was killed in a shootout with authorities who tried to serve him with an arrest warrant at around 10:45 a.m. Monday in the village of Mucas in Salug town.

Police Brigadier General Emmanuel Luis Licup, Zamboanga Peninsula Police Regional Office (PRO-9) director, said Mulok pulled a caliber .45 pistol and opened fire upon seeing a team of policemen positioned as blocking force

at the back of his house.

Mulok, who was listed as the number one most wanted person in Zamboanga del Norte, was fatally hit when the policemen returned fire.

Licup said Mulok died on the way to Liloy Integrated Health District Hospital.

Authorities recovered from the possession of Mulok a caliber .45 pistol with three live ammunition and a cellular phone.

The arrest warrant against Mulok was for kidnapping. It was issued on December 14, 2015 by the court of Liloy, Zamboanga del Norte. No bail was recommended. (Bong Garcia)