ISULAN, Sultan Kudarat — Police authorities in Lutayan, Sultan Kudarat, have launched a manhunt against three men believed to be behind the murder of a couple here on Sunday morning.
Senior Inspector Herman Luna, Lutayan town police chief, said the police and the military are hunting down a certain Naga Mangudadatu, along with two others, who allegedly shot dead couple Jose Ballon and his wife Marissa, both residents of Barangay Tamnag, Lutayan, Sultan Kudarat.
Police investigation showed that Mangudadatu, who owns a money lending business, arrived at the house of a certain John Lamondaya where the couple was residing and talked to Ballon.
Mangudadatu allegedly asked Ballon to pay the money he borrowed from the former’s money lending business.
Quoting police reports, Luna said residents nearby heard several gunshots from inside the house where the suspects and the victims were talking.
Mangudadatu and his companions fled after the incident.
A police team, led by Insp. Ronilo Lazarito, deputy town police chief, found the body of the couple.
Luna said they are still looking deeper into the case, but initially hinted that the victims’ failure to pay the borrowed money could have angered the principal suspect. (Edwin Fernandez/PNA)
