5 PDEA agents, 1 cop killed in Lanao Sur ambush

CAGAYAN DE ORO CITY - Five operatives of the Philippine Drug Enforcement Agency (PDEA) and a non-uniformed police personnel were killed while two other policemen were wounded in an ambush staged by still unidentified gunmen in Kapai town in Lanao del Sur on Friday.

PDEA Region 10 Director Wilkins Villanueva said the PDEA operatives had just come from a drug symposium for drug surrenderees in the Lanao del Sur town of Tagoloan II when waylaid.

He said that on their way back to Marawi City, armed men positioned along the road ambushed the white Toyota van filled with PDEA operatives in Barangay Malna, Kapai around noontime.

Killed on the spot were four PDEA agents and a non-uniformed police personnel of the Kapai municipal police station who hitched a ride in the van, Villanueva said.   

A fifth PDEA operative identified as Diobel Pacinio died on the way to the Amai Pakpak Medical Center in Marawi City.

Villanueva identified the PDEA operatives who died on the spot as Kenneth  Tabulo, Kristine Mae Torlao, Joy Amar, and Binzo Dipollo.

Two others - PDEA operative Rachel Gentapanan and non-uniformed police personnel Normina Dicay - are now undergoing treatment at the Amai Pakpak Medical Center. 

Villanueva said the policemen who escorted the victims were able to return fire.  Pursuit operations are still ongoing against the perpetrators.

PDEA Chief Condemns Attack

Meanwhile, PDEA Director General Aaron Aquino denounced the ambush.

"We strongly condemn to the highest sense the cowardly and atrocious killing of our six agents in Lanao.  This is unacceptable to the government and to the PDEA leadership," Aquino said in a statement.

He assured the families of the slain agents that PDEA will do a full investigation to identify the perpetrators behind the killing.

"This act of inhumanity and cowardice, taking the lives of our comrades in a surprise attack, will not just pass as another common incident in our day-to-day operations on the fight against illegal drugs.  We will use all our resources to put these animals in jail and we will intensify our campaign against their illegal operations.  Their death will not go in vain.  We will fight even more with fierce commitment and determination," he said.

The PDEA chief said the incident has given the agency more strength to continue its crusade to go after illegal drug syndicates.

"Kami po ay taos-pusong nakikiramay sa pamilya ng mga kasamahan nating nabiktima ng karahasang ito. (We are sending our heartfelt condolences to the families of our people who fell victims to this violence)," he added.
[Froilan Gallardo, MindaNews and Noel Punzalan, Divina Suson and Jigger Jerusalem, PNA]