Photo courtesy of Maguindanao Sur PPO
Police and military forces are tracking the gunmen who ambushed and killed five police officers and injured three others, including a police captain, on Saturday night in Shariff Aguak, Maguindanao del Sur.
Authorities condemned the attack against the officers, who were returning to their barracks after peacekeeping operations in the town.
The victims belonged to the 2nd Provincial Mobile Force Company of the Maguindanao del Sur Police Provincial Office.
BARMM police regional director Brig. Gen. Jaysen de Guzman described the ambush as a deliberate and cowardly act and vowed it would not be tolerated.
De Guzman said the Maguindanao del Sur police launched intensified manhunt operations and were following all leads to identify and arrest the perpetrators.
Capt. Guiseppe Tamayo, provincial police spokesperson, said the officers were on their way to Camp Akilan, the provincial headquarters, when a group of armed men ambushed them in Barangay Poblacion Mother around 9:10 p.m.
The five officers were declared dead on arrival at the Bangsamoro Regional Medical Center in Datu Hoffer, while three others remained in critical condition.
The Army’s 601st Infantry Battalion joined the police in the manhunt across Shariff Aguak and nearby towns.
