2 farmers killed in Lanao del Sur ambush

CAMP SK PENDATUN, Maguindanao – Two persons were killed in an ambush in Pualas, Lanao del Sur on Sunday night, the Autonomous Region in Muslim Mindanao (ARMM) police reported on Monday.

Chief Supt. Graciano Mijares, the ARMM police chief, identified the victims as Jabber Tanog, 37, and Abdul Saripada, 31, both residents of Barangay Notong.

Citing report from the Pualas town police office, Mijares said the victims and another companion, identified as Aladin Abdulla, all farmers and armed, were walking in Barangay Yaran for Barangay Notong at 8:30 p.m. when they were fired upon by armed men, triggering a shootout. Abdulla managed to escape unharmed.

The gunmen were allegedly led by a Saidamen Balindong, Mijares said, quoting the police report.

Mijares said the ambush could be an offshoot of a rido and was still being investigated.