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Manila Bulletin devider Philippines devider National devider Full swing manhunt on vs gunmen tagged in killing cop in Lanao del Sur ambush

Full swing manhunt on vs gunmen tagged in killing cop in Lanao del Sur ambush

Published Mar 31, 2026 03:18 pm
Gen. Jose Melencio C. Nartatez, Jr., chief of the Philippine National Police (PNP), ordered aggressive manhut against those responsible in another case of ambush, this time in Lanao del Sur, that left a police officer and his companion dead.
Nartatez said both the incident in Maguindanao del Sur and Lanao del Sur underscores the continuing threat posed by armed groups operating in parts of Mindanao, stressing that the police force will not allow such violence to persist.
“We strongly condemn this senseless and cowardly ambush. We will not let this pass and the Philippine National Police will respond with full force of the law,” Nartatez said.
Police Cpl. Walid Buleg Sangcopan, a member of the PRO-BAR unit in Lanao del Sur, and a civilian companion were riding a gray Toyota Innova when gunmen attacked and killed them along a secluded highway before dawn on Saturday, March 28, in Barangay Paglamatan, Saguiaran, Lanao del Sur.
The attack in Lanao del Sur comes hours after another deadly ambush in Shariff Aguak, Maguindanao del Sur where five police personnel were shot dead and three others wounded.
Nartatez said directives have already been issued to ground commanders, particularly in the Police Regional Office–Bangsamoro Autonomous Region, to identify and arrest the perpetrators.
“We are also reinforcing coordination with the Armed Forces of the Philippines to further strengthen the security measures in the entire BARMM to prevent violence from prevailing in the region,” he said.
Nartatez said operations are in full swing to track down those behind the attacks.
“Hot pursuit operations are ongoing and we are confident that we will arrest those involved. We will not stop until they are all held accountable,” said Nartatez.

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