Zamboanga City, Philippines — Three people, including a 12-year-old child, were killed when police attempted to serve an arrest warrant in Zamboanga City, an operation that escalated into a shootout. Authorities claim they were fired upon, but relatives of the victims insist the family was asleep and did not fight back, raising questions of accountability.

The incident occurred past 1:30 a.m. when members of the Philippine National Police and Armed Forces of the Philippines went to serve an arrest warrant against a suspect identified as Saddam Sadik, who was facing murder charges. According to the Police Regional Office 9, officers identified themselves before entering the residence, but were allegedly met with gunfire, prompting them to retaliate.

The exchange left three people dead, including a 12-year-old child, and three others wounded. Relatives of the victims strongly denied the police account, saying the family was asleep when the shooting began. “Binaril po nang walang kamalay-malay. Natutulog lang po sila. Hindi po sila nanlaban,” said Mohammad Asiri Alfad, a grieving family member. 

He added, “Kailangan ninyo pong managot kasi hindi po tama ang inyong ginawa. Kinuha niyo po ang buhay ng pamilya ko, ng papa ko, pinsan ko, at ng kapatid ko. Imagine, 12 years old, walang kamuwang-muwang tapos ganun ang nangyari.”

Authorities recovered an M16 rifle and a hand grenade from the scene, but relatives disputed the claim that the victims were armed. The suspect named in the warrant was not among those killed or injured, and police later admitted that the target was not inside the house at the time of the raid.

The Zamboanga City local government has coordinated with police to closely monitor the investigation. Officials acknowledged that the person sought in the warrant was not among the fatalities, raising concerns about possible mistaken identity. 

“One thing is clear. The first one that they were looking for in the arrest warrant was not the same person who was killed. I don’t want to call it mistaken identity,” a local official said.

The incident has sparked outrage among residents and human rights advocates, who are calling for a thorough investigation into the conduct of law enforcement officers. Families of the victims demand justice, insisting that the deaths were unjustified and avoidable.

As the probe continues, the case underscores ongoing tensions over police operations in the Philippines, particularly those involving armed encounters during warrant service. The deaths of innocent civilians, especially children, highlight the urgent need for accountability and stricter safeguards in law enforcement procedures.