5 killed in Lanao Norte ambush--police

Five people were killed, including two children, when still unidentified men shot their vehicle in the province of Lanao del Norte Sunday afternoon, a police official said on Monday.

Chief Superintendent Danilo Empedrad, director for administration of Lanao del Norte police, said the victims were on board a passenger truck on their way home from a picnic and traversing Barangay (village) Lumbac in the municipality of Magsaysay shortly before 5 p.m. when a still unidentified number of suspects fired at them.

Killed on the spot were Mohaimen Mamao, 20, Cairoden Guinal, 20, Musa Omar, 50, Paypay Buanding, 5, and Sainoden Acamping, 9, Empedrad said.

The incident also left 11 others wounded, namely: Diamon Buanding, 18; Jenny Acampong, 16; Sulaiman Abas, 11; Minsuari Buanding, 36; Maluba Guinal Bucay, 20; Hidaya Guinal Bucay, 1; Haslil Macaangga Bucay, 37; Modiahid Guinal Bucay, 3; Waway Omar, 13; Abar Solaiman, 10; and, Amerodin Guinal, 27.

The wounded victims were rushed to the nearest hospital for treatment, Empedrad said.

Police are now conducting follow-up investigations on the incident to identify the suspects and determine the motive behind the killings, he added.(Abigail Kwok; INQ.net)