5 slain in Zamboanga ambush

ZAMBOANGA CITY, Philippines – A village chief and four of her companions were killed in an ambush in Pagadian City, Zamboanga del Sur on Tuesday.

Marianita Pitogo, 34, of Barangay Lisson Valley; Renato Malandig, 37; Rowell Hindoquio, 35; Rosalia Cagas, 28, and Rosalie Enodio were in a military jeep on their way to the city proper when they were waylaid in Sitio Manipis at around 7:45 a.m. They died at the scene.

Their companion Susan Tatwan, 28, was critically wounded and taken to the Mendero Hospital for treatment.

Nine bullet shells for a caliber 5.56 rifle and seven for a .30-caliber machine gun were recovered at the scene.

Police said the victims were on their way to Barangay Dao to attend the Megayon Festival when the attack occurred.

Superintendent Michael Palermo, Pagadian police chief, said probers are eyeing politics as the motive for the ambush. – Roel Pareño, Cecille Suerte Felipe