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KABACAN, Cotabato 鈥� The police and military have launched a manhunt against gunmen who ambushed and killed a bus company official and his live-in partner along the national highway here on听 at around 2:45 p.m. on Monday.
Lt. Col. John Miridel Calinga, Kabacan, Cotabato听 police chief, said his unit has already coordinated with other law enforcement units in Cotabato province, including the Army鈥檚 602nd Infantry Brigade based in nearby Carmen town.
Calinga identified the victims as Armando Yap Lu, 79, area manager of Mindanao Star Bus Company, and his live-in partner, Marilyn Lunggakit Dulay, 62, a businesswoman.
The couple are residents of Barangay Ugalingan in Carmen town.
Lu, former village chair of Ugalingan, was driving his gray Toyota Fortuner (with plate number AAD-7010), with Dulay at the front passenger seat along the national highway when gunmen on board another vehicle opened fire.
Lu and his partner sustained multiple gunshot wounds in various parts of their bodies.
Responding Kabacan Quick Incident Response Team (QIRT) rushed the victims to hospital where they were declared dead by the attending physician.
Citing witnesses鈥� accounts, Calinga said the suspects fled toward Carmen town.
鈥淭he victims鈥� families and relatives believed the motive was work-related,鈥� Calinga said.
They also believed that it has nothing to do with local politics since Lu is no longer seeking any elective position.