Cash reward offered for arrest of Lanao cop killers

COTABATO CITY, Philippines — The governor of Lanao del Sur has offered a cash reward for any information that can lead to the arrest of three suspects in the killing of a policeman in the town of Buadiposo-Buntong on Monday.

Gov. Mamintal Adiong Jr. ordered municipal officials to help the Bangsamoro police restore normalcy in Barangay Catogonan, where the suspects – identified as Sukair, Alex and Paiz, all surnamed Diongcat – engaged policemen in a firefight.

The fatality, Cpl. Kelvin Francisco of the 4th Special Action Battalion, and his colleagues were about to serve an arrest warrant when the suspects drew their guns and shot the officers.

Francisco’s four companions including a police captain were rushed to the Amai Pakpak Hospital in Marawi City for treatment of gunshot wounds.

A manhunt has been launched for the suspects, who fled after sensing the arrival of responding Special Action Force commandos and members of the municipal police.