Abalos orders probe into shooting of Maguindanao del Sur town mayor

Interior Secretary Benhur Abalos on Saturday ordered a thorough investigation into the shooting of Datu Montawal, Maguindanao del Sur Mayor Ohto Montawal in Pasay City.

"Masusi ko ngayong pinaiimbestigahan sa pulisya ang naganap na pananambang kay Mayor Ohto Montawal ng Tunggol, Datu Montawal, Maguindanao del Sur, sa Lungsod ng Pasay nitong Miyerkules, Pebrero 22, ilang araw lamang matapos ang pagpaslang sa isa pang opisyal," Abalos said in a statement.

(I ordered the police to conduct a thorough investigation into the ambush against Mayor Ohto Montawal of Tunggol, Datu Montawan, Maguindanao del Sur in Pasay City last Wednesday, February 22, just days after an ambush against another official.)

"Sa kabutihang-palad ay nadala agad sa ospital si Mayor Montawal at siya ngayon ay nasa maayos na kalagayan. Hangad natin na agarang manumbalik ang lakas ni Mayor Montawal upang makuhanan siya ng pahayag tungkol sa nangyaring insidente," he added.

(Fortunately, Mayor Montawal was immediately brought to the hospital and he is now in stable condition. We hope Mayor Montawal will recover fast so he can give a statement regarding the incident.)

Montawal was inside his vehicle traversing the Roxas Boulevard Service Road in Pasay City on Wednesday evening when two assailants shot him, police said.

Abalos said the Philippine National Police Station Special Investigation Team (SSIT) "Montawal" is focusing on pursuit operations against the suspects.

He added that some witnesses surfaced to tell authorities what they saw.

"Inatasan ko rin ang PNP na mahigpit na bantayan at dagdagan ang seguridad para kay Mayor upang siguruhin ang kanyang kaligtasan mula sa anumang pagtatangka sa kanyang buhay," Abalos said.

(I also directed the PNP to strictly monitor and add security for Mayor to ensure his safety from any attempt on his life.)

The ambush on Montawal occurred just three days after gunmen killed Aparri, Cagayan Vice Mayor Rommel Alameda and five others in Nueva Vizcaya on Feb. 19.

The victims were aboard a  van on the way to Manila when more or less six suspects fired at Alameda's vehicle in Sitio Kinacao, Barangay Beretbet in the municipality of Bagabag. —KG, GMA Integrated News