Basilan: Authorities arrested two of the three suspects behind the murder of a village official in Basilan province on Tuesday, police said. Basilan police director Col. Cerrazid Umabong identified the two arrested suspects as Toh Lalung Acalul, 41, and Delpi Suratan, 32, both residents of Ungkaya Pukan, Basilan.

According to Philippines News Agency, the arrests were made just minutes after the suspects allegedly shot and killed Nadzri Tarahin, 41, at a bus terminal in Barangay Malinis, Lamitan City at about 10:32 a.m. Investigation showed Tarahin, an Islamic teacher and village councilor of Barangay Baguindan, Tipo-Tipo, was waiting for his daughter, who was transacting at a nearby automated teller machine, when the suspects appeared and repeatedly shot him.

Tarahin was rushed to the hospital but was declared dead by the attending physician. The gunman, wearing a hooded jacket, fled aboard a pickup truck, while the other two fled on a motorcycle with no registered plate number. Responding police launched a manhunt, leading to the arrest of Acalul and Suratan.

Recovered from the arrested suspects were the getaway motorcycle, two .45-caliber pistols with ammunition, and 28 heat-sealed plastic sachets of suspected shabu. Umabong said the third suspect, alias Nas, an alleged member of the military’s intelligence security unit, remains at large. He said that the shooting was allegedly a revenge killing. Criminal charges are set to be filed against the arrested suspects.