Off-duty soldier slain in Sultan Kudarat ambush

MANILA: Police authorities in President Quirino town, Sultan Kudarat province, launched a manhunt against two men riding tandem on a motorbike for the murder of an off-duty soldier Monday afternoon. Maj. Davis Dulawan, town police chief, identified the fatality as Staff Sgt. Renante Valdez, 43, of the 57th Infantry Battalion and resident of Barangay Suben. 'We are pursuing several leads,' Dulawan said in a radio interview Tuesday, adding that police investigators have 'persons of interest' and are the subject of a pursuit operation. Valdez was heading to Magpet, North Cotabato, on his multicab when gunmen on a motorbike shot him along the highway in Barangay Poblacion at 3 p.m. 'He was on his way to Magpet in North Cotabato to gather documents for his retirement application when ambushed,' Dulawan said, adding that Valdez died on the spot. Police found three empty shells for a .45-caliber pistol at the crime scene. Source: Philippines News Agency