Ex-barangay chairman, 2 neighbors dead in Agusan del Sur gun attack

COTABATO CITY — Gunmen wearing facemasks killed a former barangay chairperson and two companions in an attack in a secluded area in Barangay Tudela in Trento, Agusan del Sur on Wednesday night.

In separate initial statements released on Thursday morning, the Trento Municipal Police Station and the Agusan del Sur Provincial Police Office identified the fatalities as Yoyoy Asis, Edmar Ilames and Tani Montes, who all died on the spot from bullet wounds in their heads and upper torsos.

Ilames was former barangay chairman of Tudela, according to officials of the Trento municipal police and employees of the Trento Municipal Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Office who responded to the incident.

The three victims were dining together in a house in Purok 2 in Barangay Tudela when pistol-wielding barged in and opened fire.

One of the victims, who was wounded in the initial volley of fire, managed to run away but was chased and finished off with more shots by one of the attackers.

The Trento local government unit has vowed to provide essential support for the burial of the slain Barangay Tudela residents.

Brig. Gen. Kirby John Kraft, director of the Police Regional Office-13, said that he has directed the officials of the Trento and Agusan del Sur police forces to cooperate in identifying the culprits for prosecution.