DAVAO CITY – The seventh most wanted person in Laak municipality of Compostela Valley province was apprehended by the authorities in a shoot-out Thursday night in Tagum City.
The suspect was identified as Mario Tanod-tanod, Jr. aka Jomar or Jojo. He has a warrant of arrest for violation of Republic Act 9165 or the Comprehensive Dangerous Drugs Act of 2002 issued by Judge Hilarion Clapis, Jr. executive judge of Regional Trial Court Branch 3 in Nabunturan, Compostela Valley.
Tagum City Police Chief inspector, Janette Tirador said Tanod-tanod was arrested at 7:00 pm in Purok Tipaz, Barangay Magugpo East.
A composite police unit under Senior Police Officer 2 Nilo Escobido mounted a manhunt for Tanod-tanod in the afternoon Thursday caught up with the suspect driving his motorcycle who sped up after being flagged down by police.
“The police were about to arrest him but the suspect resisted. He tried to pull the grenade so to neutralize him, he was shot by our operatives,” Tirador said in an interview with Radyo ni Juan Tagum.
The shooting went for minutes as Tanod-tanod also tried to hide in a canal, Tirador said. Tanod-tanod sustained gunshot wounds in the chest and left knee and was brought to the Davao Regional Hospital in Apokon, Tagum City. Police recovered one grenade, an empty gun holster and the motorcycle used by the suspect.
Tanod-tanod’s family denied knowing his involvement in illegal drugs.
Ruel Tanod-tanod, first cousin of the suspect, said that he only knew that his cousin was staying with his wife for two years in Tagum City. Ruel said that Tanod-tanod was making a living as pedicab driver. (davaotoday.com)
