BY DANTE M SUDARIA
MAGUING, Lanao del Sur – One of the prime suspects into the ambush of the convoy of Lanao del Sur Governor Bombit Adiong, jr was killed by government forces during a gunbattle Thursday in Maguing town, this province.
The police identified the suspect as alias “Fighter,” leader of the private armed group reportedly operating in the province, and the alleged owner of Marijuana plantation recently raided and uprooted by PDEA operatives.
The joint government forces of the military and the PNP resulted to the death of alias “Fighter” in Sitio Lusong,Brgy Dalimbayan,Maguing,Lanao del Sur.
A five-month-old girl identified as Princess Sophia also died in the exchange of bullets between the suspects and members of the joint government forces. A certain Norhannah Aba was also reported wounded in the clash, it was learned.
Police Lt Mohammad Hazem Amaikurut of Maguing Police Station told the media that his operatives and soldiers led by Army 1Lt Ed Dominick Postrano were having clearing operations, when the group of alias “Fighter” suddenly alighted from the area and opened fire, forcing the police and the army to retaliate.
The gun battle lasted for almost an hour which resulted in the death of the prime suspect in the Adiong ambush, but alias Fighter’s colleagues have reportedly escaped unharm, the report added.
The government forces later recovered long and high-powered firearms in the identified hide out of the suspect and his cohorts.
