Senate commends Igorota police director for death of Zamboanga’s 2 most wanted

Benguet, Philippines – PCol. Kimberly Molitas, the Igorota police director of Zamboanga City has been recently commended by the senate for her leadership which led to the neutralization of two notorious criminals in Zamboanga Peninsula.

Molitas who is from Kibungan, Benguet and the first female police director in Zamboanga City was acknowledged along with PSMS Ryan Mariano and Correction Officer 1 Melvin Cabanal Magnaye in a resolution adopted by the senate on their plenary session on January 20, 2025.

The commendation came from the shoot out that happened on New Year’s Eve, December 31, 2024, in Zamboanga City which led to the death of two identified most wanted individuals in the region. These two were tagged in drug trafficking and implicated in several shooting incidents in the region.

At that time, Mariano was rendering New Year's Eve covered security duty at the Mount Carmel Parish Church when the two identified wanted individuals who were riding a motorcycle opened fire at him, causing the police officer to retaliate.

Right then, Magnaye who was said to be passing by the area came to cover for Mariano who was already shot in his chest and leg.

The two suspects, meantime, sustained fatal wounds from the incident – one of them dying on the spot while the other did not reach the hospital alive. As for Mariano who was also rushed to the medical facility, he was able to recover from his injuries.

On January 23, the three uniformed personnel appeared before the senate to receive their recognition. Mariano and Magnaye were recognized for their bravery and heroism, while Molitas was acknowledged for her ‘foresight in deploying PNP personnel during the New Year’s Eve mass, which helped in providing safety and security to the churchgoers and the community’.