2 BIR guards found dead in Ipil, Zamboanga Sibugay; police launch investigation
ZAMBOANGA SIBUGAY, Philippines – Authorities are investigating the killing of two security guards assigned to the Bureau of Internal Revenue (BIR) office in Ipil, the provincial capital of Zamboanga Sibugay, early Tuesday morning.
Acting Ipil police chief Major Pocholo Rolando Guerrero identified the victims as 52-year-old Jamie Dante and 41-year-old Arkhads Muharral.
Initial police reports said the victims, both are watchmen of the BIR compound, were found dead inside the premises before dawn. Their issued firearms were missing when police arrived at the scene, prompting investigators to consider robbery as one of the possible motives.
Police have yet to identify the suspects behind the attack. Investigators are now reviewing nearby CCTV footage and conducting follow-up operations to trace the killers and recover the stolen weapons.
Authorities are also looking into whether the incident was connected to the guards’ duties or a personal conflict. “We are pursuing all possible angles, including robbery and work-related issues,” a police investigator told reporters.
The killing has sparked concern among government employees and local residents, highlighting security vulnerabilities in government offices, particularly during nighttime shifts.
The BIR provincial office in Ipil temporarily suspended operations on Tuesday as investigators from the Scene of the Crime Operatives (SOCO) processed the crime scene.
As of press time, police have yet to release the names of the victims pending notification of their families.
(Photo Courtesy: Facebook/ Zamboanga Sibugay News Daily)
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