A police officer was shot dead while praying inside a mosque in Madamba, Lanao del Sur on Saturday afternoon, prompting authorities to launch pursuit operations against the lone gunman.
Initial reports showed that an unidentified assailant entered a mosque in Barangay Uyaan Proper and shot Chief Master Sergeant Alioden Sarangani in the head before fleeing the scene.
The Philippine National Police (PNP) condemned the killing, calling it a direct attack carried out in a place of worship.
“The Philippine National Police strongly condemns this brutal attack on one of our personnel, especially in a place of worship,” PNP chief Gen. Jose Melencio Nartatez Jr. said.
Nartatez ordered regional police units to intensify operations and deploy intelligence and tactical assets to track down those responsible.
He directed Brig. Gen. Christopher Abecia, chief of the Bangsamoro regional police, to carry out an expanded manhunt.
“to deploy all available intelligence and tactical resources in an intensified, border-to-border manhunt to bring all those responsible to justice,” Nartatez said.
Authorities said coordination with local leaders and communities is being strengthened to support the investigation and improve security in vulnerable areas in Lanao del Sur.
Additional police presence is also being deployed in the province as pursuit operations continue.
Nartatez extended condolences to the family of the slain officer and vowed that the incident would not go unanswered.
“The entire Philippine National Police stands with you in grief, and we assure you that his ultimate sacrifice while in a sacred house of prayer will not be in vain,” he said.
“I want to reassure the residents of Lanao del Sur that this cowardly attack will not break our resolve,” he added.
“We are pouring heavily visible police forces into your communities to restore order and ensure your absolute safety,” Nartatez said.
The gunman remains at large as authorities continue pursuit operations.