3 slain in Sultan Kudarat ‘shootout’

COTABATO CITY, Philippines — Three persons, two of them minors, were killed in an alleged shootout with law enforcers in Lambayong, Sultan Kudarat at around midnight on Thursday.

Town police chief Maj. Jenahmeel Toñacao reported yesterday that the victims, identified only as Horton, Samanudin and Mokong, were on a motorcycle when flagged down at a checkpoint in Barangay Didtaras.

Toñacao said the three refused to pull over and shot it out with policemen, who cornered them after a brief chase.

Two .45-caliber pistols and a sachet of shabu were reportedly recovered from the fatalities.

The families of the victims urged the Commission on Human Rights to look into the incident, saying the three were unarmed.