In observance of the Holy Week, the Philippine News Agency’s online news service will be off on March 29, Good Friday, and March 30, Black Saturday. Normal operations will resume on March 31, Easter Sunday.

— The Editors

Cops hunt down gunmen in Maguindanao ambush

By Edwin Fernandez

January 5, 2023, 1:19 pm

<p><strong>AMBUSHED.</strong> The bullet-damaged multicab vehicle that a family was riding when gunmen waylaid them in Lower Salbu, Datu Saudi Ampatuan, Maguindanao del Sur, Wednesday afternoon (Jan. 4, 2023). One person was killed while three others were wounded. <em>(Photo courtesy of Regan Tulibas/Maguindanao PPO)</em></p>

AMBUSHED. The bullet-damaged multicab vehicle that a family was riding when gunmen waylaid them in Lower Salbu, Datu Saudi Ampatuan, Maguindanao del Sur, Wednesday afternoon (Jan. 4, 2023). One person was killed while three others were wounded. (Photo courtesy of Regan Tulibas/Maguindanao PPO)

COTABATO CITY – Police are hunting down two gunmen who ambushed a family, killing one, in Maguindanao del Sur on Wednesday afternoon.

Maj. Reggie Abellera, Maguindanao del Sur police provincial spokesperson, said Thursday they have initial information on the identities of the suspects responsible for the ambush in Barangay Lower Salbu, Datu Saudi Ampatuan town.
 
“We are pursuing several leads, initially this is a case of rido or family feud,” Abellera said, adding that they are not discounting other possible motives.

Abellera identified the fatality as JR Sumlay, 42, the father, who was driving the family's red multicab.  

Injured were his wife, Fatima Zacaria, 42; his one-year-old son and a relative, Guiaria Alamada Mohammad, 28.

The victims, all from Datu Anggal Midtimbang, Maguindanao del Sur, were cruising the Lower Salbu stretch of the highway when two motorcycle-riding men opened fire on them.

Police found empty shells for a .45-caliber pistol at the crime scene.

“We expect positive development in our investigation within the day,” Abellera said. (PNA)

Comments