The chief of police of a municipality in Maguindanao was killed along with another officer during an ambush early Tuesday morning.
According to a spot report from the police, the fatality was identified as Police Lieutenant Reynaldo Orcine Samson, who is the chief of police of Ampatuan municipality.
Also killed was Police Corporal Salipuden Talipasan Endab.
The report said that both died “on the spot.”
“Patay kaagad ang ating chief of police, napuruhan sila so pati ang driver nya na si PCpl Endab,” Maj. Reggie Albellera, chief Public Information Office of Maguindanao Provincial Police Office, told reporters in a phone interview.
There were also three who were said to be wounded. All of them are police officers as well.
The report said that the attack was done by a group led by a Guipar Abdulkarim and/or Bantukan Andog alias Commander Boy Jocket.
Initial investigation showed that the victims were to serve an arrest warrant against one Kamir Kambal alias Meds.
“Yung pulis sa Ampatuan Municipal Police station ng Maguindanao PPO ay magsi-serve po sila ng warrant of arrest against sa suspect, kaya lang while on their way inabangan sila at in-ambush,” said Albellera.
The warrant being served was over a robbery with violence case, when the police were attacked by more or less 10 fully armed men in Barangay Kapinpilan.
A composite police team that includes members of the elite Special Action Force has been deployed to conduct hot pursuit operations against the suspects.
“Pinasok ng ating tropa AFP, PNP at PNP-SAF ‘yung area. Andito pa rin kami kung saan nangyari ang ambush, pero ‘yung tropa natin ang pumasok sa area sa looban, ” Albellera said.
Meanwhile, PNP spokesperson PBGen Roderick Augustus B. Alba said the PNP has intensified efforts in running after the lawless elements behind the ambush.
“We will surely bring justice for the death of our comrades,” he said.