Official: Adilao was a rich businessman

By JOEY NACALABAN and NITZ ARANCON
Correspondents.

THE man killed as a result of a shootout on Masterson Ave. in upper Carmen on Thursday afternoon was a wealthy businessman from Lanao del Sur whose business pool includes gun stores and a security agency.

Lanao del Sur Vice Gov. Mamintal Adiong yesterday said the businessman, 42-year-old Abdul Rahim Adilao, owned the Iligan City-based Kim Tactical Guns and Ammo Enterprises that established branches nationwide.

Adiong also said Adilao owned a security agency, a shooting range, a pharmacy, a printing shop and food establishments.

This paper learned that Adilao’s family has a history of being victimized by criminals. In 2011, his wife and her driver were kidnapped in Balo-i town in Lanao del Norte while they were on their way to Marawi City. They were released by their adductors in Linamon town over a week later.

Adilao died at the Northern Mindanao Medical Center (NMMC) at around 8:30 pm Thursday, hours after he and his group exchanged firepower with members of the Regional Highway Patrol Unit. He was moved to NMMC from the JR Borja Memorial General Hospital where he was rushed due to a gunshot wound.

Adilao was hit by a bullet in the shoulder that pierced through his lungs.

The shootout that took place at around 3:40 pm also resulted in the death of SPO1 Sergs de Constantine Maceren and the wounding of SPO2 Lyndie Baltazar who is recuperating in a hospital.

Maceren was shot to the chest and was declared dead hours later at Madonna and Child Hospital in Carmen. SPO2 Baltazar, who was hit by a bullet in the shoulder, survived the attack and is now in a stable condition.

Police pressed charges for murder, frustrated murder, illegal possession of firarms, and illegal possession of ammunition against Adilao’s three companions — two still unidentified male, and a woman identified as 30-year-old Joan Natividad Gomez, a resident of Bellevue Subdivision in upper Carmen.

Gomez is now under police custody while the hunt is on for Adilao’s two male companions.

At the crime scene, police found 26 bullet shells, a M-4 baby armalite and 87 unused M-14 automatic rifle bullets.

Ms. Gomez said Adilao did not own the firearm, and no longer gave more statements.

Police also found an original copy and certificate of registration of the car that was used by Adilao’s group. The certificate of registration bears the name of one Jose Olention of Parañaque.

Insp. Tawide Galleon of the Carmen police station said investigators were still trying to identify the two men who managed to escape.

Galleon said it looked to investigators like Adilao’s group planned to kill the police officers because shortly before the shootout, Ms. Gomez was dropped off at a convenience store where she apparently waited for the group. The shootout happened near the establishment.

Galleon said the police have strong cases against the suspects, pointing out that two witnesses have come forward against Adilao’s group.

But he said police have yet to establish the motive of Adilao’s group in attacking the police officers.

Galleon said the police officers flagged down Adilao and his companions who were riding a silver gray Hyudai Accent with license plates ULI-448.

He said Maceren was shot without any provocation as soon as he approached the car. When he fell on the ground, SPO2 Baltazar returned fire.