Mystery shrouds death of Muslim killed in ‘firefight’ with cop, companion

BAGUIO CITY – Was it due to a botched drug deal? Mystery shrouds the death of a Muslim resident here who allegedly shot it out with a police officer and his companion. 

A police report said the incident happened August 30 at around 10:50 p.m. in a transient house at No. 139 Dangwa St. Cresencia Village here involving following persons identified as: PO3 Dan Estrada Firmalino, 51, married, cop assigned in Bicutan, Taguig City; Ismael Datuotto Sandangan, 40, businessman, resident of Antipolo Rizal and Yasser Dimaren H. Macalandap, of No. 125 Yap Street here.

A police report said PO3 Firmalino and Sandangan together with their families just arrived from Manila at around 5 p.m. of August 30 for a vacation and billeted at the transient house.

The report added, Sandangan noticed someone was knocking at their door prompting him to open when suddenly without saying anything, Macalandap allegedly shot him several times.

PO3 Firmalino, the report said,  who was then at the second floor went down and had exchange of fire with Macalandap who died on the spot at the living room while Firmalino and Sandangan were rushed by their family members and neighbours to Pines City Doctors Hospital for medical treatment.

Responding cops found empty magazines, nine fired cartridge cases and five fired bullet of a Cal. 45 pistol.

The police report said firearms used in the alleged shootout have yet to be accounted for.

The police report didn’t mention it but sources said wads of money estimated to be more than a million pesos were reportedly found in Macalandap’s room.