A police officer and relatives of passengers of a red Toyota Innova view the ill-fated vehicle after it was ambushed on Saturday, Dec. 7, 2024, in Marogong, Lanao del Sur. Two died and three, including a vice mayoral candidate, were hurt in the ambush. —Photo from the Philippine National Police
COTABATO CITY – Two retired police officers were killed while three others, including a vice mayoral aspirant of Malabang, Lanao del Sur, were injured in an ambush at 4 p.m. on Saturday, December 7, the police here said.
The victims, including a vice mayoral candidate, were on board a private Toyota Innova, heading towards Malabang from Marogong town, also in Lanao del Sur, when they were waylaid by still unidentified gunmen about 4 p.m.
Killed in the ambush were Solaiman Alibasa and Hadji Asrap Sandab, retired policemen and residents of Malabang, said Lt. Colonel Jopy Ventura, speaking for the Police Regional Office Bangsamoro Autonomous Region (PRO-BAR).
READ: Gov’t must address causes of ‘rido’ in BARMM – Galvez
He identified one of the injured passengers as Ramil Bao, a candidate for vice mayor of Malabang under the Partido Federal ng Pilipinas. Bao’s injured companions were a certain Sanaoray Alibasa and Sarpia Mangayao.
The ambush site was a dirt road in Barangay Paigoay, Marogong, Lanao del Sur.
Police from Marogong and nearby Malabang town rushed the injured victims to the hospital for medication.
Police are looking at “rido” (family feud) as a possible motive for the incident.