The Philippine National Police stressed on Tuesday that the incident in Lambayong, Sultan Kudarat which resulted in the death of a son of a policeman and his two other companions last week is a legitimate operation.

But while the PNP maintains that police in Lambayong were doing their job, PNP chief Police General Rodolfo Azurin Jr. said that there is an ongoing investigation on the alleged shootout.

To recall, an incident occurred on 2 December in a checkpoint involving the suspects identified as Horton Ansa Jr., Arshad Ansa, and Samanoden Ali, who were killed during a gunfight with authorities.

Based on the initial report, the three men were riding a motorcycle when they were flagged down in a checkpoint in Lambayong but they ignored the policemen and allegedly even traded shots with them during the pursuit.

Police also allegedly seized suspected shabu from the suspects.

Meantime, Ansa's father — a policeman assigned to the Sharrif Saydona Mustapha town — stressed said that his son and the two others had clean records and questioned the incident.

He added that his son was a criminology student who wanted to become a policeman like him.