POLICE have arrested three of the alleged suspects in the ambush that left Lanao del Sur Governor Mamintal Alonto Adiong Jr. wounded and four of his companions dead.

Police Regional Office-Northern Mindanao Spokesperson Major Joann Navarro said Palawan Salem Macalbo, 34; Nagac Dimatangkil Baratomo, 38; and Amirodin Dimatingkal Mandoc, 29, were arrested over a standing arrest warrant for a murder case that they allegedly committed in 2019.

Baratomo and Mandoc also have standing arrest warrants over illegal possession of firearms.

“The arrested persons were included as alleged suspects of the recent ambuscade conducted against governor Adiong of Lanao de Sur,” said Navarro.

The suspects were found in possession of assorted firearms, which will undergo ballistics examination to determine if they were used in any crimes.

Police earlier filed murder and frustrated murder charges against the suspects in Adiong’s ambush on February 17.

The suspects were identified following the killing of another alleged suspect in the shooting incident.

Investigators are still identifying the motive behind the incident. (SunStar Philippines)