DAVAO City Mayor Duterte-Carpio confirmed on Sunday evening, May 10, that two personnel of Central 911 were gunned down in Datu Paglas, Maguindanao Province.
One died while the other survived the attack.
In a radio interview on May 10, Duterte-Carpio said she was not privy about the two city workers' business is going to the province.
"Ang question is kung official ba ilang work travel? No. Natingala mi kung nganong naabot sila didto sa (They are not on official work travel. We were even surprised that they traveled to) Maguindanao because they were supposed to be in a mandatory 14-day quarantine," Duterte-Carpio said.
It can be recalled that the City Government has implemented enhanced community quarantine for more than a month beginning April 4.
"Their quarantine should have started on the day nga naa sila didto sa Maguindanao (when they went to Maguindanao). So we do not know kung nag unsa sila didto (what they have been doing there)," she said.
In an interview Monday, May 11, with Datu Paglas Police Station Police chief Police Major Armando Liwan, he told SunStar Davao that the area where the City Government workers were shot is known for its presence of lawless elements.
He said that as of Monday, May 11, they already filed cases of murder and frustrated murder against three suspects. An investigation is being conducted to apprehend the perpetrators.
During their interview with the survivor, the victim admitted that they were supposed to be under quarantine. However, the slain victim allegedly invited him to go to Digos City to meet a friend but when their friend was no show, they decided to go back.
Asked how the victims got in the area, Liwan said they were supposed to head back to General Santos City and took the route via Datu Paglas.
He could only surmise that the victim might be mistaken as assets of the government forces. In previous days, there were previous encounters with the Philippine Army and lawless armed groups in the area.
The two victims initially bought bananas in Barangay Alip in Datu Paglas and after that, they went back to their vehicle. However, three individuals onboard the two motorcycles tailed them. When they halted on the roadside, the suspects came closer and shot the victims.
Liwan also said that the bag of the slain victim has gone missing.
He said it remains a challenge on their part on how to locate the suspects considering that the residents in the area are not cooperative, fearing for their lives.
"Tinitingnan naming isa din yon napagkamalan na asset ng PDEA, AFP, PNP," he said.