Police Station Chief & Officers Dismissed From Post After Shootout Leaves Young Girl Dead
A police station chief and several officers have been dismissed from their post after a shootout left a 12-year-old girl dead in General Santos City.
Authorities have removed a police station chief and several officers from their positions following a tragic shootout. The incident happened on April 18, 2026, in Barangay Labangal after police responded to a report about a man allegedly firing a gun.
According to initial reports, the suspect was armed with a .45 caliber pistol and opened fire when officers arrived. It led to an exchange of gunfire between the suspect and the police.
The suspect was later killed during the encounter. Authorities recovered a firearm and small sachets believed to contain illegal drugs from his possession. However, what made the situation more painful was the loss of a young life. A 12-year-old girl was hit in the head during the shootout and did not survive.
Police stated that the suspect was responsible for the bullet that struck the child. Still, the victim’s family has raised serious concerns about how the operation was handled.
The family questioned why the shooting continued even after it was made known that children were inside the house where the incident took place.
Officials from the police force have begun a full investigation to determine whether proper procedures were followed, especially since the area was crowded. Some officers noted that in situations like this, it may be safer to delay an arrest rather than risk lives.
As the investigation continues, three responding officers and their station commander have been placed under administrative relief. The step aims to ensure a fair and thorough review of the case.
“In the meantime, yung station commander, I have directed yung administrative relief to pave the way of impartial and thorough investigation,” PRO-12 Director, Police Brigadier General Arnold Ardiente said.
If negligence is proven, the officers involved may face administrative charges.
In another post, a drug suspect killed in shootout during buy-bust operation
The social media users expressed their reactions to the incident:
