BY JOEL CALAMBA ESCOL, Managing Editor
MANILA, Philippines – The PNP have now identified persons of interest in the ambush of Lanao Sur Governor Mamintal “Bombit” Adiong, Jr., last week.
Governor Adiong and his staff Ali Macapado Tabao were wounded but not critical. But four of the governor’s police escorts all died on the spot in their convoy pick up vehicle.
Police authorities in the Bangsamoro Autonomous Region in Muslim Mindanao (BARMM) identified those slain soldiers as Police Staff Sergeant Mohammad Jurai Mipanga Adiong, 40; Police Corporal Johanie Lawi Sumandar, 39; Police Corporal Jalil Ampuan Cosain, 40, and a driver identified only as Kobi.
“May mga tinututukan na na mga persons of interest ‘yung Police Regional Office [Bangsamoro Autonomous Region in Muslim Mindanao] diyan,” the PNP spokesperson PCol Jean Fajardo told a national TV station. She did not elaborate.
Fajardo said the police investigators assigned on the case are now gathering more concrete information leading to the arrest of the suspects, and whoever masterminded the ambush. ““Pero tinitignan pa rin po natin (kung) ito po ba ay may kinalaman sa kanyang trabaho sa politika o personal.”
IN STABLE CONDITION
Lanao del Sur Provincial Information Officer Salma Jayne Tamano told the media that Governor Mamintal “Bombit” Adiong, Jr was fortunate he was only wounded in his left leg while escaping from the ambush area in Maguing town, also in Lanao del Sur.
The information on the governor’s stable condition was also confirmed by the governor’s brother, Lanao del Sur 1st District Representative Ziaur-Rahman Adiong.
“Through the grace of Allah, Governor Bombit is in very stable condition. The worst has passed. He’s out of danger,” he said in a statement released to the media.
The governor was also transferred to one of the hospitals in Cagayan de Oro several hours after he was admitted at the Provincial hospital in Kalingan town in Bukidnon.
In a report released by the Kalilangan Municipal Police Station (MPS) based in Bukidnon province, Governor Adiong and his convoy was heading to Wao town in Cotabato to attend a very special activity.
While they were traversing a road in the municipality of Maguing, unidentified attackers suddenly peppered them with bullets and his police escorts were caught off-guard. Four of the police escorts died on the spot.
