‘Rido’ eyed as motive in slay of Lanao Norte HPG chief

From the Philippine News Agency (Feb 1, 2022): ‘Rido’ eyed as motive in slay of Lanao Norte HPG chief (By Divina Suson)

Police Major Omar Tago, chief of the Police Highway Patrol Group in Lanao del Norte. (Supplied photo)

Police investigators are looking into family feud or "rido" as a possible motive for the ambush that killed two, including the chief of the Lanao del Norte - Highway Patrol Group (HPG), and wounded another companion in Sultan Dumalondong, Lanao del Sur.

A report from Lanao del Sur police stated that Major Omar Tago, the Lanao del Norte - HPG chief, was on his way to Barangay Pagalungan on Monday to attend the vigil of a family member who died four days before the incident when the suspects fired upon the vehicle of the police official.

In an update Tuesday, Lt. Col. Cristio Lagyop Jr., chief of the Regional Public Information Office of the Police Regional Office in the Bangsamoro Autonomous Region in Muslim Mindanao, confirmed that four assailants on motorcycles carried out the attack.

Tago was rushed to a nearby hospital but was declared dead while being revived.

His companion, identified as Kanor Rascal, died on the spot while another companion, identified as Adam Dirindigun, was wounded and is now being treated in a hospital in Marawi City.

Tago, who heads the HPG Lanao del Norte, was on his 20th year in the service this year.

He was previously assigned as chief of police in the municipal police stations of his hometown in Sultan Naga Dimaporo, in Bacolod, and Baloi, all in Lanao del Norte.

A police report said all four suspects are residents of Lumbatan town in Lanao del Sur.

"The suspects immediately fled after shooting the victims," the police report stated.

The suspects were armed with .45-caliber pistols. according to the report.

The Lanao del Sur provincial police office has yet to issue a statement on the incident.

https://www.pna.gov.ph/articles/1166826