COTABATO CITY, Philippines– Unidentified and heavily armed men killed on Tuesday night a village chair, a councilman and three other relatives in an ambush in Datu Odin Sinsuat, Maguindanao, police and Army here said Tuesday.
Quoting a report from government troops on the ground, Major Jo-ann Petinglay, 6th Infantry Division information chief, said a certain Michael Sinsuat Dalidig, together with his companions were waylaid while on board a multi-cab in Barangay Dimapatoy, Datu Odin Sinsuat, Maguindanao, at past 6 p.m. Tuesday.
Barangay Dimapatoy is just few kilometers from the Army division headquarters.
Senior Insp. Datu Tulon Pinguiaman, Datu Odin Sinsuat town police chief, identified the fatalities as village chair Michael Sinsuat Dalidig of Barangay Dimapatoy, his village councilman Jonathan Benito, his wife and fellow relatives who sustained multiple gunshot wounds in different parts of their body. They died instantly.
Police recovered more than 30 empty shells for M-16 Armalite rifle at the crime scene.
“The victims came from the house of Councilman Benito and were travelling to the village center when the ambush occurred,” Pinguiaman told reporters.
Police manhunt and follow-up investigation are still under way as of posting.
Maguindanao Vice-Governor Datu Lester Sinsuat, a relative of the slain village chair, immediately rushed to the crime scene. He condemned the perpetrators of the ambush.
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