Lanao del Sur Gov. Adiong's surgery successful after ambush, kin surprised by attack

The surgery done on Lanao del Sur Governor Mamintal Alonto Adiong Jr. to take out the bullet that hit him during an ambush in the province on Friday was successful, his brother Lanao del Sur, 1st District Representative Zia Alonto Adiong said on Saturday.

"He's out of danger, thank God. Kasi 'yun ang fear ng family noong nabalitaan 'yung nangyari," Adiong said in an interview on Super Radyo dzBB.

(That was the fear of the family when we first heard about what happened.)

"He underwent surgery para alisin 'yung bala... Medyo malalim. Buti hindi fatal, walang natamaan na organs. Successful naman ang surgery," he added.

(He underwent surgery to take out the bullet... It was a bit deep. But good thing it was not fatal and no organs were hit [by the bullet]. The surgery was successful.)

Rep. Adiong said the governor is recovering in the intensive care unit of a hospital.

Unidentified gunmen ambushed the convoy of Gov. Adiong on Friday afternoon as it passed Kalilangan, Bukidnon, wounding the local chief executive and a member of his staff. Three police officers — part of the governor's security detail —and one driver were killed.

Adiong's convoy was en route to Wao, Lanao del Sur at 4 p.m. when they were attacked. 

According to Rep. Adiong, the governor's vehicle was not bulletproof. 

They also used the usual road taken by motorists from Marawi City to get to Wao, the last town before North Cotabato and Bukidnon, he said.

Motive, suspects

"Nakakapagtaka... There was nothing out of the ordinary yesterday na nakikita namin na puwedeng maging reason na under threat siya," Rep. Adiong said.

(It was surprising. There was nothing out of the ordinary yesterday that we could see that could have shown he was under threat.)

He added that the governor did not mention any possible threat or enemy before.

"Na-surprise lahat... Wala kaming alam na kaaway niya," Rep. Adiong said.

(We were all surprised. We don't know of any enemies he had.)

"We're looking at every possible motives. We cannot discount politics kasi nga itong nangyari kahapon talagang inabangan eh. Meron talagang intention to make an attempt on his life," he added.

(We cannot discount politics because the incident yesterday showed they really waited for him. There was really an intention to make an attempt on his life.)

Rep. Adiong said Friday's ambush was the first attempt on the life of a sitting governor in Lanao del Sur.

"Sa amin, it's the first time in the history of Lanao del Sur na meron talagang actual attempt on the life of a sitting governor. Hindi 'yan nangyayari usually sa amin. It never happened," he said.

(For us, it's the first time in the history of Lanao del Sur that there was an actual attempt on the life of a sitting governor. That does not usually happen.)

"Wala pang nag-attempt sa buhay niya. Although may mga ano of course in politics we have to have adversaries pero hindi umabot sa point na someone made a threat on his life or his family," Rep. Adiong said.

(No attempt on his life has been made before. Although of course in politics we have to have adversaries, it never got to a point wherein someone made a threat on his life or his family.)

"We are waiting for the investigators, the authorities, to come up  with the result of their investigation," he added.

Rep. Adiong said a meeting will be held on Saturday among mayors to condemn the attempt on the governor's life. They will also meet with authorities regarding the investigation into the incident.

Meanwhile, Commission on Human Rights (CHR) Commissioner Faydah Dumarpa condemned the ambush.

"As a fellow Maranao and Mindanaoan, I condemn the ambush in Maguing, Lanao del Sur yesterday, 17 February 2023, that killed 4 and injured 2 people. Violence such as this does not achieve anything except to undermine our nation's quest for sustainable peace and stability, especially in Mindanao.  I pray that the perpetrators will be swiftly brought to justice," she said in a statement. —KG, GMA Integrated News