2 cops dead in Zambo Sibugay attack

MANILA, Philippines – Two policemen securing a bus terminal in a town in Zamboanga Sibugay were shot dead following an attack by 4 armed men on Sunday, January 29.

The fatalities were identified as PO1 Rey A. Romano and PO1 Radin Lim Hasi, both assigned in the Tungawan Municipal Police Station.

The cops were detailed in a detachment at the town’s bus terminal along the national way of the Barangay Poblacion, when 4 suspects opened fire at them at around 10pm.

A police report identified two of the suspects as Monib Aukasa and Jomar Aukasa, based on eyewitnesses’ testimonies. Accordingly, the two other unidentified suspects were armed with .45 caliber pistols.

The suspects took away the M16 rifle of PO1 Hasi and fled to an unknown direction.

“The suspects’ motive could be agaw-armas,” Sr Supt Ruben Cariaga said. “They could be the same suspects that attacked a bus and killed 3 people last year.”

In April 2011, three people, including an Army officer, were killed when armed men robbed a passenger bus in Tungawan town. The bus was set ablaze as the suspects fled.

The police said pursuit operations have been launched to track down the suspects, who may be linked to a group of rebels operating in the area. – Rappler.com