Manhunt on vs. suspects in ambush of 5 in Maguindanao

From the Philippine News Agency (Jan 26): Manhunt on vs. suspects in ambush of 5 in Maguindanao

Police and military forces have launched a manhunt against gunmen who ambushed and seriously injured five persons along the national highway here Thursday dawn.

"Pursuit operations are still going on, our soldiers are helping us locate the suspects," Senior Inspector Esmael Tarusan, town police chief of Sultan Kudarat, Maguindanao, told reporters.

Investigation showed that the ambush took place at about 5 a.m. in Barangay Rebuken here where gunmen opened fire on a white Isuzu Trooper vehicle.

Tarusan said three of the five victims were identified as Jimmy Soledad, 60, Mohamad Jaime Ebad, 41 and Arbine Soledad, 30, all residents of Barangay Nuling, Sultan Kudarat, Maguindanao.

The two remained unidentified. All the victims are now confined in a hospital in Cotabato City.

Tarusan said five gunmen armed with automatic rifles were seen near a roadside furniture shop in Barangay Rebuken, who quickly opened fire as the victim's vehicle was approaching the village.

Although injured, the driver kept on speeding until they reached an Army detachment and sought assistance.

Elements of Sultan Kudarat PNP and 37th Infantry Battalion responded and found at the crime scene empty shells of Armalite rifle, Garand rifle and cal. 45 pistols.

Tarusan believed it was a case of personal grudge involving one of the victims, Jimmy Soledad, and an unidentified armed group.

Tarusan ensured the national highway remained safe for commuters as soldiers and cops have provided road security while manhunt against the suspects was in progress.

http://www.pna.gov.ph/index.php?idn=2&sid=&nid=2&rid=958348