2 Marawi evacuees slain in Iloilo attack

ILOILO CITY  , Philippines  —  A man armed with a hammer reportedly attacked three members of a family from Marawi City, killing two of them and seriously wounding the other in Mandurriao district here at dawn yesterday.

Muamar Ditingki, 29, and his five-month-old son died while being treated at the nearby Western Visayas Medical Center, police said.

The baby died at 4:05 a.m. and his father at 6:23 a.m.

Ditingki’s wife Asnifah was said to be fighting for her life in the same hospital as of yesterday afternoon.

The family was asleep at their tent, which also serves as their store, located at Mandurriao Plaza when the assailant barged in at around 3:45 a.m., according to Chief Inspector Juvy Navales, Mandurriao police chief.

The Ditingkis, who reportedly settled in Zarraga town after arriving in Iloilo three weeks ago, were selling dry goods at the plaza.

The family decided to sleep in the store that night.

Three hours after the attack, police arrested Mark Ganava, 19, in nearby Barangay Calahunan.

Ganava, a native of Himamaylan, Negros Occidental, had been staying in Barangay Calahunan for the past three weeks.

Vendor Asliah Disamburun, 28, told police she saw Ganava come out of the victims’ store. She said the suspect, who also saw her, punched her several times before fleeing.

Aside from Disamburun, Palawan Ambor, 43, identified Ganava.

The witnesses’ description of the suspect led police to arrest Ganava.

Investigators recovered at the crime scene a hammer believed used in the attack.

Navales said they have yet to determine the motive for the killing.

He said the manner by which the victims were killed indicated the suspect harbored a grudge against the family.

“We will determine if a prior encounter occurred between the suspect and the family,” Navales said, adding they are also eyeing robbery as the motive for the attack.

Ganava denied the crime, saying he didn’t even know where Mandurriao Plaza is located.

He said he arrived in Iloilo City three weeks ago and found a job at a hollow blocks factory.

On Saturday night, Ganava said, he and his brother- in-law along with several friends were having a drinking session at a videoke bar on Oñate street, also located in Mandurriao.