Screengrab from Regional Public Information Office NCRPO / Facebook

MANILA, Philippines — Pasig City police early Saturday morning arrested the alleged leader of a criminal group after shooting it out with responding policemen.

Abdulfahad Dirampa Malik, 35, alias “Rex Fajad,” and three others were said to be acting suspiciously near a local cafe in Barangay Pinagbuhatan when one Substation 5 personnel and two Barangay Safety Force officers on patrol approached them at around 12:35 a.m. on Nov. 2.

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Malik then pulled his firearm and opened fire at an officer, according to the spot report. The officer shot back in defense, hitting the suspect at his lower back.

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Screengrab from Regional Public Information Office NCRPO / Facebook

Pasig police said Malik was brought to the city’s general hospital to treat wounds sustained during the exchange of gunfire.

They also recovered from the suspect a .38-caliber revolver and two motorcycles at the scene, submitting them to the Philippine National Police Forensic Group for examination.

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Complaints against Malik for attempted murder and violation of the Firearms Act were being readied before the Pasig City Prosecutor’s Office, police said.

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Authorities added that follow-up operations were ongoing to locate the remaining suspects who fled the scene.

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The National Capital Region Police Office (NCRPO) said Malik was the subject of a search warrant issued on September 5, 2016, during which nine heat-sealed plastic sachets containing suspected shabu (crystal meth) were seized.

NCRPO added that Malik was implicated in a 2021 case for illegal sale, possession and manufacture of dangerous drugs; a 2022 case for forcible abduction; and a 2023 case for carnapping.

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READ: PNP charges 8 Chinese for illegal detention

He was classified as a high-value individual, known for criminal activities in Pasig, nearby cities and Mindanao; and remained at large until the armed encounter early morning this Saturday, the regional police further said.

“This arrest of a notorious criminal leader shows our unwavering commitment to keeping Metro Manila secure,” NCRPO Acting Director Maj. Gen. Sidney Hernia said in a statement.

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He added337jili, “We are implementing robust measures to counter criminal activities, enforcing firearms laws under Republic Act 10591, especially as we prepare for the upcoming 2025 midterm elections.”

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