By Mortz C. Ortigoza
An intrepid police official who battled the Islamic State of Iraq and the Levant (ISIL)
backed Maute and Abu Sayyaf Salafi rebels in Marawi City and killed a drug kingpin died not with bullets from his enemies but to colon cancer.
The Police Regional Office-6 based in Iloilo City’s press release said that Colonel Marlon A. Tayaba, 51, succumbed to the killer disease last February 16, 2020.
“At the time of his death, Tayaba was one of PNP’s key regional senior officers as he was serving as PRO-6’s chief regional staff. Prior to his assignment at PRO-6, Tayaba was the chief of the Iloilo Police Provincial Office (IPPO). It was during his watch in September 2017 when he led a team to neutralize Richard Prevendido, the alleged leader of the Prevendido drug group. Tayaba’s reassignment in Iloilo province came after a June 2017 daylight raid on the police station in Maasin town by the New People’s Army (NPA)”.
“Tayaba was specifically chosen for his experience as ground commander of the police elite force who faced the Maute terrorist group during the height of the 2017 siege in Marawi City".
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| LEADER. Police Colonel Marlon Tayaba leading his troops during the Marawi City Siege where state troopers with aid from the United States , Australia, and other country had a protracted skirmishes from May 23 to October 23, 2017 versus foreign backed Muslim jihadist group. The group wanted to raise a caliphate flag and convert the Islamic City in Mindanao into a bastion of the Islamic State of Iraq and the Levant (ISIL). (Photo grabbed from Facebook) |
Before his tour of duty in Iloilo Province, Tayaba, a San Carlos City, Pangasinan resident, held offices as chief of police of San Carlos City, Pangasinan and Criminal Investigation & Detection Group in Manila in August 31, 2010 and August 31, 2016, respectively.
He saw action during the five months urban guerrilla's war stand off with foreign backed ISIL Maute and Abu Sayyaf Salafi jihadist groups .
The protracted siege ensued in May 23 , 2017 to October 23, 2017. It ended in the defeat and death of the leaders of the jihadists there but demolished in a Pyrrhic victory the Islamic city because of the relentless bombings of government forces aided by the U.S and other countries.
The raid of the hideout of Prevendido where his son was shot to death by policemen and the drug lord gunned down by Tayaba was a product of patient sleuthing from the latter and his team.
After researching the locations of the various properties of the kingpin, Tayaba and company located him in Maasin town.
Here’s Philippine Star report titled " How they got Prevendido" dated September 3, 2017.
“The three-man assault team first tackled Room 1 and immediately killed Prevendido’s son, Jason, who managed to fire the first shot but did not hit anyone.
As for the elder Prevendido, “the moment he opened the door, he immediately fired his gun,” Tayaba said.
Prevendido apparently managed to fire his gun thrice before he slumped to the floor with four gunshot wounds – one on his forehead, one under the chin and two on his chest.
Tayaba said one of the personnel who was with him did not manage to fire his gun after he got rattled.
Apparently, it was Tayaba’s reliable Glock 17 that finished off Prevendido”.
Another Pangasinan Police Colonel Harris Fama posted at his Facebook Account:“Our Police Academy mate, my kababayan, a dear friend, a brother and a Marawi warrior Col Marlon Tayaba just passed away. Join me to pray for his soul, may he Rest in peace. (After a) few days viewing in Iloilo City, the remains will be finally (put to) rest in San Carlos City, Pangasinan.”.
He is a member of Philippine National Police Academy Class of 1993.
Tayaba, who had a lengthy stints in Iloilo Province, spoke fluently the Ilonggo dialect according to his brother, a police official too, who told this writer who naturally speak the vernacular of the Southern Island.
Both of them have college schooling in Iloilo City.
Read my other blog/news article:
his marksmanship and skill was truly and asset to the military force..
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