PNP connects Maguindanao del Sur ambush to January attack on Shariff Aguak Mayor

The Philippine National Police (PNP) sees a connection between the recent fatal ambush incident in Maguindanao del Sur and the earlier attack on Shariff Aguak town Mayor Adatu Akmad Mitra Ampatuan Sr. last January.

“Pinaniniwalaan ng [Police Regional Office Bangsamoro Autonomous Region] na ito ay may kaugnayan sa nangyaring insidente sapagkat ang biktima rito ay kanyang pamangkin,” PNP spokesperson Police Brigadier General Randulf Tuaño said at press briefing Wednesday.

(The Police Regional Office Bangsamoro Autonomous Region believes that this is related to the incident that occurred because the victim is his nephew.)

“Base sa initial na imbestigasyon, noong bumaba ‘yung mga tatlong suspects sa nasabing pananambang maaari namukhaan daw ito ng kanyang kapatid,” he added.

(Based on the initial investigation, when the three suspects alighted from their vehicle, his brother saw their faces.)

The victims are expected to issue a statement about the matter soon, according to the PNP official.

On January 25, armed men ambushed the convoy of Shariff Aguak mayor Ampatuan using a rocket-propelled grenade (RPG). Though the mayor was unharmed, two of his security escorts were wounded in the firefight. 

All four suspects were killed in a hot pursuit operation after the ambush, according to the police.

After over three weeks, the mayor’s nephew on Tuesday was killed after unidentified gunmen opened fire on their vehicle in Datu Saudi Ampatuan, Maguindanao del Sur.

Two people were also wounded in the ambush, including the younger brother of the mayor identified as Yasser, as well as a certain “Lemon.” — RSJ, GMA Integrated News