Two engineers from the Department of Public Works and Highways (DPWH) were killed in an ambush in Barangay Lanao, Kidapawan City, Cotabato on Friday afternoon, March 14.
According to Lt. Col. Dominador Palgan Jr., Kidapawan City police chief, Mohammad Jalaluddin Mandangan and Benhur Piang died instantly due to bullet wounds they sustained in the ambush.
The two victims were senior employees at the 2nd District Engineering Office of DPWH-12 in Cotabato province.
They were riding in a white Toyota Hilux pick-up truck driven by Mandangan. They were on their way to their office after attending the Friday worship rite at a mosque in Kidapawan City. While on the way, they were suddenly shot by armed men riding a motorcycle.
Due to the bullet wound to the head, Mandangan lost control of the steering wheel, causing their vehicle to crash into an electric post.
Called Gov. Emmylou Taliño-Mendoza, chairman of the Cotabato Provincial Peace and Order Council, to Lt. Col. Palgan and Col. Gilberto Tuzon, police director in Cotabato, to work together to identify the culprits.
Mendoza also condemned the incident and encouraged the victims' co-workers to assist in the investigation to achieve justice.
