By Ali G. Macabalang

KIDAPAWAN CITY, North Cotabato — Two officials of the Department of Public Works and Highways (DPWH) District Engineering Office (DEO) here were killed in a daring ambush along the highway of Barangay Lanao in this city on Friday, initial investigations showed.

The two fatalities were identified as Engr. Mohammad Jalaluddin Mandangan, 37 years old, chief of the Quality Assurance Section of the DEO-Kidapawan, and Engr. Benhur Piang.

Unidentified motorcycle-riding armed men fired at the fatalities and killed them on the spot aboard their private White Toyota Hi-Lux pickup vehicle.

One of the fatalities was driving the pick-up, which ferried them from a nearby mosque for the day’s Friday congregational prayer. The vehicle rammed an electric post, which tilted to cause a brownout in one of the city’s commercial sections, initial reports said.

A third companion of the victims, believed to have been injured was able to jump from the vehicle and flee for safety, according to eyewitnesses.

According to online reports, Lt. Col. Dominador Palgan, Kidapawan City police chief, and Col. Gilberto Tuzon, North Cotabato police provincial director, have ordered an investigation to establish the motive and perpetrators behind the ambush. (AGM)