By CESAR JOLITO III

Two government security personnel were killed after unidentified armed men ambushed them at Barangay Maquiling in Negros Occidental’s Sagay City on Tuesday afternoon, May 12.

Police identified the fatalities as a Philippine Army officer from Iloilo province’s Zarraga town, and a member of the Civilian Armed Forces Geographical Unit (CAFGU) assigned to Cadiz City’s Barangay Celestino Villacin.

Initial police investigation showed that they were riding a single motorcycle from their detachment en route to Sagay’s Barangay Bato when unidentified suspects suddenly opened fire at 3:10 p.m. in Purok Kalubihan.

The attack resulted in the instantaneous death of both victims, the Sagay City Component City Police Station said.

Police have launched a hot pursuit and dragnet operation to track down the suspects.

Investigators also sought assistance from the Scene of the Crime Operatives team and coordinated with the 79th Infantry Battalion of the Philippine Army for further operations.

As of this writing, authorities have yet to determine the motive behind the attack and identify the perpetrators./CJ, WDJ