Escorts of slain PDEA agents relieved

MANILA, Philippines — The police escorts of five agents of the Philippine Drug Enforcement Agency (PDEA) who were killed in an ambush in Lanao del Sur on Friday have been relieved from their posts.

Philippine National Police (PNP) chief Director General Oscar Albayalde said he ordered Chief Superintendent Graciano Mijares, Autonomous Region in Muslim Mindanao (ARMM) director, to conduct a thorough investigation of the incident. 

“The policemen are now in... custody. They were relieved from their posts pending an investigation…I gave strict instructions... to look into this,” Albayalde said.

The PDEA agents were in a van on their way to Marawi when they were waylaid.

Albayalde said local police officials have yet to determine if the PDEA agents were abandoned by their police escorts.

He cited reports that the police officers failed to respond when the PDEA agents were attacked because they went ahead of the van carrying the victims.

Albayalde said probers are looking into several persons of interest in connection with the incident.

When asked if politicians were behind the ambush, he said the information has yet to be validated.

Drug ring

Meanwhile, Maranao leaders urged probers to look into reports that the gunmen are members of a drug ring.

Community leaders said Kenneth Tabulo, Binzo Dipolla, Diobel Pacinio, Kristina Mae Torlao and Laurice Joy Amar could have been killed in retaliation for the death of a drug suspect while under police custody several months ago.

The suspect was reportedly shot dead when he attacked his custodians.

Another PDEA agent and a non-uniformed PNP personnel were wounded in the ambush.

Mijares said they are verifying the identities of the suspects from local officials and community leaders.

 “I can assure the PDEA and the people of Lanao del Sur that everything is being done for justice to reign,” Mijares said.

The ARMM-Humanitarian Emergency Assistance and Response Team released P100,000 in cash assistance to the families of the fatalities. – With John Unson