Zamboanga City — Authorities here reported on Tuesday that a town police chief in Maguindanao and his aide were killed in an ambush on Tuesday morning while they were on their way to serve a warrant of arrest on a wanted individual in Barangay Kapinpilan.

Brig. Gen. John Gano Guyguyon, police director for the Bangsamoro Autonomous Region in Muslim Mindanao, identified the slain police officer as Lt. Reynaldo Samson, police chief of Ampatuan, Maguindanao.

Samson’s close-in escort, identified as Police Corporal Salipuden Talipasan Endab, also died on the spot.

The wounded policemen, on the other hand, were identified as P/Master Sgt. Renante Quinalayo, Corporals Rogelio de la Cuesta Jr. and Marc Clint Dayaday.

Initial reports disclosed that Samson, Salipudin and three other policemen were together in a patrol vehicle as they were on their way to Barangay Kapinpilan to arrest a certain Kamir Kambal, who is wanted for robbery and intimidation of persons.

Reports also said that the gunmen had positioned themselves along the road leading to the residence of Kambal and just waited for the police vehicle to pass the area to ambush.

Guyguyon, meantime, said a manhunt was immediately launched against the perpetrators after the incident.

Meanwhile, the Philippine National Police said it has intensified efforts in running after lawless elements who are behind the attack.

In a statement, PNP chief Gen. Rodolfo Azurin Jr. said the Provincial Mobile Force Companies of Maguindanao Police Provincial Office are leading pursuit operations in the areas surrounding the ambush site.

He added that the BARMM’s Police Regional Mobile Forces and the Police Regional Office 12 were also alerted to possibly intercept a heavily armed group led by a certain Abdulnasser Saptula Guianid, who is believed to be responsible for the incident.

“We will verify the identity of the casualties and surely we will bring justice for the death of our own personnel,” Azurin said.

Police Regional Mobile Forces of Bangsamoro Autonomous Region and Police Regional Office 12 were also alerted to possibly intercept a heavily armed group led by a certain Abdulnasser Saptula Guianid believed responsible for the killing of two PNP personnel including the town Police Chief of Ampatuan, Maguindanao.