ONE of the top most wanted persons in the country was killed in a shootout with law enforcement early Friday, July 15, 2022, in the province of Zamboanga del Sur, the police reported.
Police Colonel Diomarie Albarico, Zamboanga del Sur police director, identified the slain most wanted person as Esmael Sanday alias Boy Negro, a member of the Kiang Balimbingan crime group based in Zamboanga Sibugay province.
Albarico said Sanday was killed in a shootout around 5:55 a.m. Friday, July 15, in Sitio Gappi, Lenok Madalum village, Lapuyan, Zamboanga del Sur.
He said the shootout ensued when Sanday pulled a caliber .45 pistol and opened fire while the policemen were about to serve warrants of arrest against him.
Albarico said the policemen returned fire, hitting Sanday who was rushed to the hospital but was declared dead by the attending physician.
He said Sanday had standing warrants of arrest for two cases of murder in separate courts in Zamboanga del Sur and one for frustrated murder in Zamboanga Sibugay.
Albarico said that a cash reward of P165,000 was at stake for the arrest of Sanday based on the Department of the Interior and Local Government Memorandum Circular Number 2021-120 dated October 20, 2021. (SunStar Zamboanga)