COTABATO CITY (PNA) – Police backed by Marines have arrested a suspect behind the Sept. 25 ambush of Marines in Picong, Lanao del Sur.
Lt. Col. Serge Ronquillo, 2nd Marine Battalion Landing Team (MBLT-2) commander, said Wednesday, Sept. 28, that Jamal Balindong Pumbaya did not resist when arrested Tuesday, Sept. 27, after several witnesses testified he was the gunman.
On Sept. 25, a group of Marines onboard a KM450 military vehicle was patrolling the vicinity of Barangay Punong in Picong around 6 p.m. when Pumbaya, who was allegedly armed with an assault rifle, opened fire and quickly fled under the cover of darkness.
Three Marines, Privates First Class Stephen Saragal and Elijah Taccas and Private Romy Torallo Jr., all of MBLT-2, were wounded in the incident.
Pumbaya is now detained at Picong the Municipal Police Station detention facility awaiting charges for multiple frustrated murder and illegal possession of firearms.