A police operation to serve a warrant of arrest turned into a deadly shootout, leaving three murder suspects dead and two officers injured in Camella Trails Subdivision, Visayan Village, Tagum City, Davao del Norte.
Authorities attempted to serve arrest warrants on Norman Saquin and Rozendel Arselias Cañete for two counts of murder. However, instead of surrendering, the suspects allegedly resisted, leading to an exchange of gunfire.
During the encounter, two members of the SWAT team, identified as PSSg. Tapayan and PCpl. Baliad, sustained gunshot wounds to the arm and leg, respectively. Both officers are in stable condition.
Cañete and his companions tried to escape, while Saquin barricaded himself in a second-floor room and allegedly fired at the police. Officers returned fire, hitting him. He was rushed to the Davao Regional Medical Center but was declared dead on arrival.
Cañete was also killed after engaging the police while attempting to flee. Another suspect, identified as Renz Balmaceda, was found hiding in a creek and was fatally shot after reportedly resisting arrest.
Residents were temporarily restricted from entering the subdivision as authorities secured the area. The operation lasted several hours.
