A member of the Philippine National Police-Special Action Force (PNP-SAF) died and four other officers were injured in an ambush in Lanao del Sur on Monday morning.
The incident took place in Barangay Catogonan, Buadipuso Buntong, as police attempted to serve a warrant of arrest for murder and attempted murder against suspect Sukair Diongcat.
Cpl. Kelvin Dela Cruz Francisco was identified as the officer killed in the ambush.
Injured in the attack were Capt. Mark Bryan Tamid-ay, Patrolman Presley Baguiwan, and Cpl. Rexil Mejos from the PNP-SAF, along with Cpl. Taha Saripada of the Lanao del Sur Police Special Operations Group.
Capt. Steffi Salanguit from the Police Regional Office-Bangsamoro Autonomous Region (PRO-BAR) confirmed that the four wounded officers are currently in stable condition.
Following the ambush, additional police units were deployed to the area, including two light armored vehicles and personnel from nearby police stations.
The suspect remains at large as search operations continue.