Lanao del Sur Gov. Mamintal Adiong Jr. (File photo from the PIA)
(Updated: 10:05 p.m., Friday, February 17)
ILIGAN CITY—Four persons were killed when a convoy of Lanao del Sur Gov. Mamintal Adiong Jr. was ambushed by still unidentified gunmen in Maguing town on Friday.
Citing information shared by the police, Col. Michele Anayron, commander of the Army’s 403rd Infantry Brigade, said Adiong’s convoy was traversing the road between Maguing and Amai Manabilang town en route to Wao, a town in Lanao del Sur that borders Bukidnon province.
According to Anayron, the ambush happened at around 3 p.m. in Barangay Ragayan, less than two kilometers away from the camp of the 103rd Base Command of the Moro Islamic Liberation Front whose forces and weapons are set for decommissioning, in keeping with a 2014 peace deal with the government.
Anayron added that those killed were aides of the governor who accompanied him in the trip.
An updated report from the Bukidnon police obtained by the Inquirer identified the fatalities as Juraij Adiong, Aga Sumandar, Jalil Cosain, and a certain Kobi who was the driver of a pickup truck that was riddled with bullets.
All four were riding on the ill-fated vehicle.
Adiong and another staff, Ali Macapado Tabao, were injured and rushed to the Bukidnon Provincial Hospital in Kalilangan town for treatment.
The governor was later transferred to a hospital in Cagayan de Oro City.
Lanao del Sur Rep. Zia Adiong said the governor, his older brother, is now safe from harm.
Police are still investigating the motive of the attack.
Bangsamoro parliament member Rasol Mitmug Jr. denounced the incident.
“We express our deepest sympathies to the family and friends of the victims and offer our prayers for the speedy recovery of the wounded,” Mitmug said in a statement.
“We call upon the authorities to fully investigate this incident to bring the perpetrators to trial and ensure that the victims’ families receive justice,” Mitmug added.
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