By BONITA ERMAC
ILIGAN CITY – Five agents of the Philippine Drug Enforcement Agency-Autonomous Region in Muslim Mindanao and a non-uniform personnel of Tagoloan, Lanao del Sur Municipal Police Station were killed in an ambush in Barangay Malna, Kapai, Lanao del Sur yesterday.
The fatalities were identified as PDEA agents Kenneth Tabulo, Kristine Mae Torlao, Lores Joy Amar, Binzo Dipolla, and Diobel Pacinio.
One PDEA agent and another non-uniformed personnel of the Tagaloan MPS were wounded in the ambush – Rachel Gentapanan of PDEA and NUP Normina Dicay.
The victims were on board a white Toyota van and bound for Marawi City after attending a program for drug surrenderees at the Tagoloan police station when they were ambushed by an undetermined number of armed men.
Elements of the Tagoloan and Kapai MPS responded to the incident and conducted hot pursuit.
Victims were taken to the Amai Pakpak Medical Center in Marawi.
Chief Supt. Graciano Mijares, ARMM police director, condemned the attack. Pursuit operation is ongoing and we are doing everything to solve this, Mijares said.