10 eyed in ambush of PDEA agents

MANILA, Philippines — At least 10 gunmen were involved in an ambush that killed five agents of the Philippine Drug Enforcement Agency (PDEA) in Kapai, Lanao del Sur on Friday, police said yesterday.

Senior Superintendent Ronald Briones, Lanao del Sur police director, said this was the account given by police officers who escorted the PDEA agents from a symposium for drug surrenderees.

“More than 10 people took part in the ambush,” Briones said in an interview with GMA 7.

The agents were in a van on their way back to their office in Marawi when they were ambushed in Barangay Malna.

“They never had a chance to return fire as they were hit during the initial burst of gunfire. Their police escorts were able to return fire and kept the armed men at bay until reinforcements arrived,” Briones said.

The fatalities were identified as Kenneth Tabulo, Binzo Dipolla, Diobel Pacinio, Kristina Mae Torlao and Lores Joy Amar.

Two others including a non-uniformed personnel of the Tagoloan municipal police were wounded in the incident.

Briones said probers have yet to identify those responsible and determine the motive for the killing.

He said illegal drugs could be among the motives for the ambush as the victims were from PDEA.

The ambush could have been planned as it occurred in an isolated part of the town.

“It happened in a farm where there are no houses around,” he said.

Cash reward

Provincial officials condemned the killing of the PDEA agents and offered cash rewards for any information leading to the arrest of the gunmen.

Lanao del Sur Gov. Soraya Alonto-Adiong said the municipal government of Kapai would help identify the killers of the PDEA agents.

The provincial government committed to help transport the bodies of victims to their regional office in Cotabato City.

Without saying the exact amount, Vice Gov. Mamintal Adiong Jr. and Autonomous Region in Muslim Mindanao Gov. Mujiv Hataman committed to give cash incentives to anyone who can help the police identify and arrest the killers.– With John Unson