A FARMER, who was the subject of a harassment complaint, was killed in a shootout with responding policemen in an east coast village of Zamboanga City, the police said.

Senior Inspector Shellamie Chang, Zamboanga City Police Office (ZCPO) information officer, said the incident happened at 10:45 a.m. Monday at Sitio Gapuh in Talabaan village.

Chang identified the slain farmer as Marvin Mendoza, 46, a resident of Guisao village.

He said that a resident named Kaire Juanito Arcillas reported and requested for police assistance on Sunday evening, December 2 because Mendoza, who was armed with a firearm and bolo, was harassing them.

However, Chang said Mendoza has gone into hiding when responding policemen arrived.

Chang said that Mendoza opened fire upon seeing the arriving policemen, who made a follow-up operation at 10:45 a.m. Monday.

Mendoza missed his target prompting the policemen to return fire hitting the farmer she added.

She said the responding policemen have recovered from the possession of Mendoza one snub-nosed caliber .38 revolver with three rounds of ammunition and one caliber .357 magnum revolver with five bullets.

The police official said the remains of Mendoza was taken to a funeral parlor for post mortem examination. (Bong Garcia/SunStar Philippines)