Two Philippine Army soldiers were killed after being ambushed along a national highway in Sultan Kudarat, Maguindanao del Norte, on Wednesday evening, Sept. 23.
The victims were identified as Private First Class Jobert Labuson and Private First Class Johnmark Dumaguing, both members of the Army’s 7th Infantry Battalion under the 6th Infantry Division.
Police said the soldiers were riding together on a motorcycle along the highway in Barangay Ladia at around 6:10 p.m. after buying food supplies. They were reportedly followed by two men riding another motorcycle before one of the suspects opened fire.
The soldiers sustained multiple gunshot wounds and were rushed to the Cotabato Regional Medical Center in Cotabato City. Both were later declared dead on arrival. Investigators recovered three empty shells believed to have come from a .45-caliber pistol at the scene.
The gunmen escaped immediately after the shooting. Authorities have not identified the suspects, and the motive remains under investigation.
The attack occurred while a gun ban was still in effect in the Bangsamoro region following the Sept. 14 parliamentary elections, according to reports.
The 6th Infantry Division and Joint Task Force Central condemned the killing and expressed condolences to the soldiers’ families and fellow servicemen. Officials also appealed to residents to provide information that could help investigators identify the attackers.
The investigation is continuing, with police and military intelligence units working to establish the identities of the gunmen and determine whether the attack was targeted and what may have motivated it.
The killings have placed renewed attention on security along parts of the national highway in central Mindanao, as authorities work to determine who was behind the attack and whether the soldiers were specifically targeted.
