Manhunt on for killers of Marine sergeant in Cotabato

From the Philippine News Agency (Feb 24): Manhunt on for killers of Marine sergeant in Cotabato

Authorities here have launched a massive manhunt against two men who shot dead a Marine sergeant and injured another in a broad daylight shooting here Friday.

Senior Supt. Rolly Octavio, city police director, said Sgt. Ferdinand Ulang of the 7th Marine Battalion Landing Team (MBLT-7) died on the spot from gunshot wounds in the head and body. His companion, Sgt. Arnel Navarro, also from the MBLT-7, was critically wounded.

The two MBLT-7 personnel, both based in North Upi, Maguindanao, have just acquired a loan from the Armed Forces and Police Savings & Loan Association, Inc. (AFPSLAI) in this city when they were attacked along Sinsuat Avenue.

Octavio said the victims were on board a motorbike driven by Ulang heading towards the downtown area from AFPSLAI office at 1:30 p.m. when two gunmen on a separate motorbike opened fire at them using .45-caliber pistols.

Although armed with pistols, the two Marine officers failed to return fire.

Witnesses said they were shot at close range from behind.

Navarro sustained bullet wounds and is confined in a hospital in the city under heavy guard by fellow Marines.

Octavio said police investigators are still trying to identify the culprits and determine the motive for the attack.

Some three hours later, Marine officers who were attending to the remains of their slain comrade, traded shots with two armed men beleives to be guns-for-hire near the Villa Funeral Homes, also in Sinsuat Avenue.

The Marines shot dead a certain Mohammad Saud Andes, 22, who first fired on Alfredo Tumbaga, a retired Marine officer and currently chief security officer of the Regional Legislative Assembly-Autonomous Region in Muslim Mindanao in this city.

A cohort of Andes, identified as Badjorie Karim, 28, was injured in the shootout, and is currently undergoing treatment at a hospital here.

Octavio said the motorcycle-riding duo trailed Tumbaga, who was on a separate bike, and shot him at close range at the back of his head and body in a busy section of Sinsuat Ave.

Tumbaga was rushed to the hospital but also expired while being attended to by doctors.

http://www.pna.gov.ph/articles/1026392