WESTMINCOM: 3 soldiers, 1 civilian dead in Lanao shooting incident

Posted to the Western Mindanao Command (WESTMINCOM) Facebook Page (Jan 14, 2021): 3 soldiers, 1 civilian dead in Lanao shooting incident

Camp Navarro, Calarian, Zamboanga City- January 14, 2021

Three soldiers and one civilian were shot and killed by unknown perpetrators on the morning of January 14, 2021.

Lt. Gen. Corleto Vinluan, Jr., Commander of the Western Mindanao Command said the shooting incident transpired at around 8:45 a.m. 

“Based on the report, our troops from the 4th Mechanized Infantry Battalion received an information from a civilian informant regarding a shooting incident in the boundary of Poona Piagapo and Pantao Ragat, Lanao del Norte,” said Lt. Gen. Corleto Vinluan, Jr., Commander of the Western Mindanao Command.

“Troops immediately responded and proceeded to the area to validate the information. Upon arrival, the responding team discovered 4 dead bodies with gunshot wounds,” the commander added.

As per verification, the three were identified as personnel of the 43rd Mechanized Company under the 4th Mech Bn stationed at Tangclao Detachment, Poona Piagapo. 

Lt. Col. Domingo Dulay, Commander of the 4th Mech Bn said the three were onboard a motorcycle to go on marketing when the incident happened. 

“Our troops immediately conducted pursuit operation and coordinated with the PNP of Poona Piagapo and Pantao Ragat for investigation,” Lt. Col. Dulay added.

Meanwhile, 2nd Mechanized Infantry Brigade Commander Brig. Gen. Facundo Palafox said, “We are still establishing the circumstances and we do not have any other information at the moment.”

“The fourth victim is a civilian and is yet to be identified while the names of the slain soldiers are withheld pending notification to their next of kin,” Brig. Gen. Palafox added.

Joint Task Force ZamPeLan Commander Maj. Gen. Generoso Ponio expressed that this terroristic act of victimizing including an innocent civilian is simply unacceptable. He further committed to exhausting resources under his disposal for the immediate identification and neutralization of the perpetrators.

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