Suspects in ambush of PDEA agents identified

MAGUINDANAO, Philippines — Suspected members of a drug ring allegedly led by a barangay chairman were tagged in the killing of five agents of the Philippine Drug Enforcement Agency (PDEA) in Kapai, Lanao del Sur last week.

The Autonomous Region in Muslim Mindanao (ARMM) police identified the suspects as William Gandawali, chairman of Barangay Inudaran in Tagoloan ll town in Lanao del Sur;  his son Oscar; his nephew Aiman; Palawan Salem Macalabo; Lala and Jamal, both surnamed Amboloto; Mizangcad Panonde and Aiman Guro, also surnamed Gandawali, and Jamel Borar. They remain at large.

Multiple murder and double frustrated murder charges were filed against the suspects and two John Does yesterday.

Police said the gunmen are relatives of drug suspect Comayog Macapagal, who was killed in a drug raid in Marawi last Aug. 8.

Chief Superintendent Graciano Mijares of the ARMM police said the relatives of the slain suspect had reportedly threatened to avenge his death ”at any opportune time.”

Police said they received reports that Macapagal’s nephew, who lived with the fatality in Marawi, gathered their relatives and planned the attack.

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

President Duterte visited the wake of Kenneth Tabulo, Binzo Dipolla, Diobel Pacinio, Kristina Mae Torlao and Laurice Joy Amar at Camp Siongco in this province yesterday before he flew to Bali, Indonesia to attend the Association of Southeast Asian Nations leaders’ summit.

Another PDEA agent Rachel Gentapanan and non-uniformed police personnel Normina Dicay, who were wounded in the ambush, remain confined in a hospital.

The ARMM regional government has offered a reward for information leading to the arrest of the suspects. – With Edith Regalado