Stray bullet kills CSC exec outside MSU in Marawi

A Civil Service Commission (CSC) regional deputy director was killed while his director was wounded when they were hit by stray bullets outside the compound of Mindanao State University in strife-torn Marawi City on Thursday morning.

The military identified the fatality as Marvin Palangan Ablando, 44, a resident of Cotabato City and CSC-Autonomous Region in Muslim Mindanao deputy director. He died around 10:30 a.m. while undergoing treatment at Amai Pakpak Medical Center.

The other victim was identified as Sandrah Macalangcom Usman, 43, a Marawi City resident and CSC regional director.

Police Officer 3 Rizaldy Galvez of Marawi PNP said Ablando sustained a gunshot wound in the head while Usman had a grazed wound also in the head.

He said they have yet to determine the bullet that hit the victims.

Colonel Romeo Brawner of Task Force Ranao said the incident happened before 10 a.m. He said the victims were on their way out of the MSU and at the vicinity of Brgy, Cadayonan when they were hit by stray bullets.

He said the Marawi Police Station is now conducting investigation on the incident.

Brawner said they have rerouted the traffic from the front gate of MSU to the back following the incident. They also met with MSU officials to ensure the safety of the students, faculty, and employees.

The classes in MSU resumed on August 22.

For weeks Marawi City has been the site of fierce battles between government troops and members of the ISIS-inspired Maute group, which attacked the city on May 23.

The attack prompted President Rodrigo Duterte to place Mindanao under martial law.

The military expects to clear Marawi City of Maute terrorists within the month. —Amita Legaspi/KBK/RSJ, GMA News