Authorities probe ambush-slay of Basilan village exec, 3 others

From the Philippine News Agency (Jan 11, 2021): Authorities probe ambush-slay of Basilan village exec, 3 others (By Teofilo Garcia, Jr.)

Authorities are conducting an in-depth probe to identify and arrest the culprits behind the ambush-slay of a barangay official and three companions in Basilan province, military officials said Monday.

Lt. Gen. Corleto Vinluan Jr., commander of the Western Mindanao Command (Westmincom), identified the fatalities as Barangay chairperson Bin Saudi Sarakil of Matata, Ungkaya Pukan, Basilan; Usop Abdul Majid; Kain Manisan; and Ibrahim Abdulkarim.

Vinluan said Sarakil and his three companions were aboard a car traversing along Sitio Bacud, Barangay Banah, Tipo-Tipo when ambushed Saturday afternoon by a group of unidentified gunmen.

Vinluan said the victims were on the way home to Barangay Matata from Lamitan City.

He said the gunmen were already gone when responding troops arrived at the ambush site.

“Our troops from the 18th Infantry Battalion immediately responded to the area and went after the fleeing lawless elements,” Vinluan said.

Col. Domingo Gobway, commander of the Joint Task Force Basilan, said the victims succumbed to multiple gunshot wounds.

“We are still conducting the in-depth investigation in coordination with our police counterparts from the Lamitan City and Tipo-Tipo stations to identify the perpetrators and the motive of the incident,” Gobway said.

https://www.pna.gov.ph/articles/1126951