AFTER SHOOTING INCIDENT: SK town head nabbed in police raid; grenade, firearm, shabu seized

By Jennifer P. Rendon

After his controversial involvement in a shooting incident, the Sangguniang Kabataan (SK) president of San Miguel, Iloilo is again embroiled in an alleged violation of the law.

Mikhail Khalil Tadifa, 24, was arrested in a search and seizure operation morning of Sept 30, 2022 at his wife’s house in Barangay 11, Poblacion, San Miguel.

Tadifa was roused from his slumber when members of the Criminal Investigation and Detection Group-Region 6 (CIDG-6) and San Miguel Police Station implemented a search warrant.

While there was no resistance from Tadifa himself, his mother, who lives several meters away, allegedly threatened to call a lawyer and even the Office of the President.

“I told her to go ahead because that’s their right,” Major Jess Baylon, CIDG-Iloilo City chief, said.

But it did not hinder the police from implementing the search warrant for violation of Republic Act (RA) 10591 (Comprehensive Firearms and Ammunition Regulation Act) issued by Judge Ros Edith Togonon of the Regional Trial Court Branch 25 in Iloilo City.

In applying for the search warrant, the police claimed that Tadifa possessed a caliber .37 revolver, a caliber .45 pistol, and a 12-gauge shotgun.

But during the search operations, police only recovered a caliber .45 pistol with magazine assemblies and 12 live ammunition, empty ammunition shells, a gun holster, a butterfly knife or balisong, and various drug paraphernalia, among others.

Baylon said the drug paraphernalia will be tested for the possible presence of shabu residue.

A hand grenade was also seized during the operation.

Tadifa was earlier charged for frustrated murder after he shot Dyezrelle Malaygay on Aug. 13, 2022.

Tadifa allegedly stormed Malaygay’s house in Barangay San Jose, San Miguel and shot the latter. Luckily, the victim only suffered a graze wound on his temple.

Tadifa went into hiding after the incident.

Major Sullen Domingo, San Miguel police chief, said the warrant of arrest against Tadifa for the shooting incident has yet to be issued.

After a while, Tadifa was again seen in the area, as he was no longer subject to a police manhunt, sans a warrant of arrest.

But since last week, Tadifa has not been seen around after he allegedly received reports that he will be subjected to a gun raid.

“Since last week, we have been monitoring him. We have been camping out near his house until we confirmed that he went home yesterday,” Baylon said.

Tadifa is now in CIDG-6’s custody and will be charged for violations of RA 10591, RA (Unlawful Manufacture, Sales, Acquisition, Disposition, Importation or Possession of an Explosive or Incendiary Device), and RA 9165 (Comprehensive Dangerous Drugs Act of 2002).