Gunmen kill 3, rob rubber buying station

THREE people were killed when five gunmen held up and robbed a rubber buying station in Basilan, a local government official said Thursday.

Lamitan City Mayor Roderick Furigay said the incident happened around 7 a.m. Thursday in Sitio Sayugan, Maligaya village, Lamitan City, Basilan province.

Furigay identified the victims as Nonong McLintock, the caretaker of the buying station and his companions, Sedrick Lisama and Allan Ablayan.

Furigay said the victims were rushed to the Dr. Jose Ma. Torres Memorial Hospital but the attending physician declared them dead on arrival.

The victims have just opened the buying station when the five gunmen aboard on two motorcycles arrived and pretended to be customers, Furigay said.

The suspects suddenly pulled out an assault rifle and a handgun and opened fire while having a conversation with the victims, he said.

The buying station of raw rubber materials and rubber latex is owned by Charlie Cawley, one of the known businessmen in Lamitan City.

The suspects carted away P500,000 and a shot gun and fled toward the direction of Sitio Little Cebu, Maganda village.

The police are still conducting investigation to determine the identities of the suspects.