Senior Superintendent Cornelio Salinas, Cotabato police provincial director, said Highway Patrol Group officers were conducting checkpoint along the national highway in Barangay (village) Malasila in North Cotabato around 9:20 a.m. when they were fired upon by still unidentified number of suspects on board a gray Kia bongo (JEJ 224) that was ordered to stop for an inspection.
“[The] vehicle stopped about 50 meters away then several armed men open fired,” Salinas said.
Police Officer 3 Rufino Sumugat and Police Officer 1 Raul Pablo were killed while Senior Police Officer 2 Ponciano Pahkiat sustained injuries, he said.
Salinas said the suspects left their vehicle and fled on foot and government troops were sent to chase them.