By Edwin Fernandez
CAMP PARANG, Maguindanao Norte – Unidentified gunmen attacked policemen who were serving a warrant of arrest leaving one officer dead and four others wounded in Lanao del Sur on Monday, police said.
Capt. Steffi Salanguit, speaking for the Police Regional Office-Bangsamoro Autonomous Region (PRO-BAR), said police from the Buadipuso Buntong municipal police station were serving a warrant of arrest against Sukair Diongcat for murder and attempted murder.
As the police approached the village of Lumbak, sniper fire from different directions met them, triggering a firefight at about 11 a.m.
Salanguit said five injured police officers were rushed to a hospital in Marawi City. One of them, Cpl. Kelvin D. Francisco, a member of the PNP Special Action Force, later died.
The four wounded officers are now in stable condition, Salanguit said. They are Capt. Mark Bryan Tamid-ay, Pat. Presley Baguiwan and Cpl. Rexil Mejos, all SAF members, and Cpl. Taha Saripada of the Police Special Operations Group of the Lanao del Sur Provincial Police Office.
Pursuit operations against the suspects are ongoing. Col. Caezar Cabuhat, Lanao del Sur provincial police chief, led reinforcement units in pursuing the lawless elements, Salanguit said. (PNA)
