Fatal shootout seen as ‘misencounter’

By BEN BALCE
Staff member .

THE shootout on Masterson Ave. in upper Carmen that resulted in the deaths of a police officer and a businessman cum Lanao del Sur politician on Thursday afternoon was likely a case of “misencounter,” the chief of the National Police’s Regional High Patrol Unit here said over the weekend.

“They were at the wrong place and at the wrong time,” said Senior Supt. Danilo Buentipo.

The exchange of gunfire resulted in the deaths of SPO1 Serge de Constantine Maceren and Abdul Rahim Batawi Adilao, a prominent Lanao del Sur businessman whose pool of businesses includes gun stores, a security agency, a shooting range, a pharmacy and food establishments.

This paper also learned that Adilao was a politician who had filed a certificate of candidacy for mayor in Butig, Lanao del Sur.

Police said the shootout took place after Maceren and SPO2 Lyndie Baltazar, now recovering from a gunshot wound, flagged down Adilao’s car because they found the vehicle’s license plates suspicious.

But Buentipo said investigators found out later that Adilao’s vehicle, a new Hyundai Accent, is not a “hot car.” Except for modified license plates, Adilao’s Land Transportation Office (LTO) documents — a certificate of registration and an official receipt — were in order.

He said the police officers felt something was not right with the car’s plates, “ULI-440,” and so, they followed Adilao’s vehicle up to an area near a convenience store.

Buentipo said Maceren and Baltazar had just come from the City Prosecutor’s Office where they pressed charges against two vehicle owners who tried to bribe them on Tuesday.

Buentipo said Maceren and Baltazar wore their Highway Patrol uniforms.

“If he (Adilao) had nothing to hide, why did he not immediately open his window?” Buentipo asked rhetorically.

He said he watched a CCTV recording that showed Adilao with a woman.

The woman, identified as 30-year-old Joan Gomez, was reportedly dropped off by Adilao at the convenience store shortly before the shootout.

Contrary to what police said on Friday that there were two other male suspects who supposedly escaped, Buentipo said the CCTV recording showed that Adilao was only with Gomez.

Buentipo said the two men seen running were motorela passengers who ran for cover when Adilao and the policemen fired shots at each other.

Buentipo alleged that Adilao’s firearm, an M-4 baby armalite, had a tampered serial number.

Adilao’s car was also sent to the National Police’s Crime Laboratory for forensic examination.

Chief Supt. Roberto Fajardo, chief of the National Police-Highway Patrol Group, has ordered a deeper investigation into the shootout.