The Philippine National Police (PNP) has already identified and filed charges against eight of the 10 suspects involved in the ambush of six agents of the Philippine Drug Enforcement Agency (PDEA) in Lanao del Sur last week.
PNP chief Director General Oscar D. Albayalde said on Wednesday that the suspects were members of a drug trafficking group and relatives of a drug suspect who was killed by the PDEA in previous operations in the province.
The PNP identified the suspects as Oscar Capal Gandawali; Palawan Salem Macalabo; Lala Lolo Amboloto; Jamal Lolo Amboloto; Mizangcad Panonde Gandawali; Aiman Guro Gandawali; Jamel Borar and William Gandawali.
The two other suspects remain unidentified.
Albayalde said all of the suspects are now the subject of a manhunt operation following the filing of multiple murder and double frustrated murder against them.
The PNP said all of the suspects were linked to the late Comayug Macapagal, a native of Tagoloan, Lanao del Sur, who was killed by PDEA agents in an anti-illegal drugs operation on August 8 in Marawi City.
The suspects, who are Macapagal’s relatives, have reportedly vowed to retaliate as a result of the death of their relative, a high value target in Marawi City.
“Oscar Capal Gandawali, his nephew, who has been living with him in MSU [Mindanao State University] Marawi City, where he was killed have organized his close relatives that at any opportune time they will have revenge,” said the police.
They also said that William Gandawali, the incumbent barangay chairman of Inudaran, Tagoloan, is the older brother of Comayog.
The PNP said the suspects ambushed the six PDEA agents on Wednesday last week at Barangay Malna in Kapai, Lanao del Sur, after the agents attended an anti-illegal drugs program.