ARMM exec, 2 others killed in Lanao attacks

ZAMBOANGA CITY, Philippines – Three people were killed - including a local government official - in two separate attacks Tuesday morning in the southern Philippine province of Lanao del Sur, a police official said. The first attack occurred along Narciso Ramos highway in Malabang town at 4:30 a.m. where a certain Farouk Edris, 61, was killed, according to Superintendent Seigfredo Ramos Jr., spokesman for the police regional office in the Autonomous Region in Muslim Mindanao. Ramos said the second attack happened almost three hours later in nearby Balabagan town, killing PO1 Archieveard Sabdane and Villamor Alibasa, executive assistant 3 of the regional legislative assembly of ARMM. The official said the two were on board two passenger vans from Pagadian City on their way to Cotabato City when attacked by six unidentified armed men. It was unknown whether the two attacks were related. police and military personnel were deployed to track down the perpetrators. No group has claimed responsibility for the twin attacks, but Moro rebels and bandits are actively operating in Lanao de Sur, one of five provinces under ARMM. Last month, at least 57 people, including 31 journalists, were brutally murdered in Maguindanao, which is also under ARMM. The government has tagged Datu Unsay Mayor Andal Ampatuan Jr., scion of the powerful Ampatuan clan, in the mass killing. - with Al Jacinto/KBK, GMANews.TV