3 brothers slain in Maguindanao attack

DATU ODIN SINSUAT, MAGUINDANAO – Three Teduray farmers were killed when two gunmen barged into their house in Barangay Sibuto here Tuesday and opened fire, police said.

Chief Inspector Sabri Lakibul, police chief of Datu Odin Sinsuat, said Virgilio Francis, 49, and his brothers Arnilo, 38, and Marlo, were killed when their alleged attackers, whom the police identified as Satar Lumanggal, 42, and his brother, Kumine, barged into the siblings’ house at 4 p.m. and shot the victims.

Lakibul quoted witnesses as saying the victims managed to fire back at the suspects at first but were soon overpowered.

After the five-minute shooting, the attackers, who were known in the village, fled on a motorbike.

Police found a 12-gauge shotgun, ammunition, and slug for a cal. 45 pistol inside the victims’ house.

Police had yet to look into the motive of the attack but residents believed it had something to do with the land dispute involving the victims and the attackers.

Chief Supt. Graciano Mijares, police director for the Autonomous Region in Muslim Mindanao, has ordered the Maguindanao police to investigate.