Police file raps vs 3 in Kiblawan ambush

POLICE filed complaints on Monday before the Digos City Prosecution Office against three ambush suspects in Kiblawan town, Davao del Sur, on June 20.

Superintendent Marcial M. Magistrado, spokesperson of the Police Regional Office (PRO), identified the suspects as Jomar Labwayan, Tayet Dungan, and Wen Piang, all believed to be members of a lawless B'laan group in Kiblawan.

Magistrado said the suspects, who are facing two counts of murder and frustrated murder, remain at large.

The fatalities were identified as Villamindo Hectin, security consultant of Sagittarius Mines Inc. (SMI) and Police Officer 2 (PO2) Rey Tonzo, while the wounded were identified as Senior Police Officer 1 Wenefredo Sengonigue and PO1 Glen Beltran of the Davao del Sur Police's Public Safety Command.

Initial investigation showed that Tonzo along with Sengonigue and Beltran were conducting patrol in Sitio Maclak in Barangay Kimlawis, while Hectin was only a hitchhiker who was going to SMI office when the suspects ambushed them.

Magistrado, citing a text message of Police Senior Inspector Arnold Absin, chief of the Kiblawan Municipal Police station, said the suspects are allegedly connected to one Daguil Capion, leader of a lawless group in Kiblawan.

"Sa ngayon, wala pa kaming bagong update tungkol sa suspects. Rest assured the authorities in Kiblawan are doing their best to locate the whereabouts of the suspects," Magistrado said.