MANILA, Philippines – Two Marines were shot dead while two children were hurt on Thursday in a gun attack in Sulu, the military said.
Colonel Jose Cenabre, commander of the 2nd Marine Brigade, said the two soldiers securing the area within Mt. Carmel Cathedral in Jolo were shot by unidentified armed men at 11:45 a.m.
He identified the two fatalities as Corporal Danilo Agustin and Private First Class Gilmor Panitan, both assigned with 29th Marine Company of the Marine Battalion Landing Team-9.
They were rushed to Camp Teodulfo Hospital but were declared dead on arrival.
Meanwhile, two children, aged 6 and 5, were wounded from stray bullets. They were near the cathedral when the shooting happened.
Both were brought to Sulu Provincial Hospital for treatment and were already in stable condition.
An investigation and pursuit operations were being conducted by military and police, Cenabre said.