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MANILA, Philippines — Department of Interior and Local Government (DILG) Secretary Benjamin Abalos Jr. has ordered the police force to thoroughly investigate the shooting incident involving Mayor Ohto Caumbo Montawal of Datu Montawal, Maguindanao del Sur in Pasay City.
On Wednesday evening (February 22), Montawal was in a van heading toward Gil Puyat Avenue along Roxas Boulevard when two unidentified armed men shot him.
Based on the police report, Montawal sustained a gunshot wound on his hip and left arm.
READ: Maguindanao town mayor hurt in ambush try in Pasay City
“Masusi ko ngayong pina-iimbestigahan sa pulisya ang naganap na pananambang kay Mayor Ohto Montawal ng Tunggol, Datu Montawal, Maguindanao del Sur, sa Lungsod ng Pasay nitong Miyerkules, ilang araw lamang matapos ang pagpaslang sa isa pang opisyal,” Abalos said in a statement issued Saturday.
(I ordered the police force last Wednesday to investigate the gun attack against Mayor Ohto Montawal of Tunggol, Datu Montawal, Maguindanao del Sur, in the City of Pasay, a few days after the ambush of 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 makuha na siya ng pahayag tungkol sa nangyaring insidente,” he added.
(Fortunately, Mayor Montawal was immediately taken to the hospital and is now in good condition. We hope for Mayor Montawal’s speedy recovery so he can give a statement about the incident.)
To ensure the mayor’s safety, Abalos also directed the Philippine National Police (PNP) to monitor him as he recovers.
He added that the PNP Station Special Investigation Team (SIIT) “Montawal” is already gearing up to track down the suspects behind the incident, adding that several witnesses have come forward to testify.
“Patuloy kaming magbibigay ng updates sa mga ginagawang hakbang ng ating kapulisan tungkol dito. Makakaasa kayo na ginagawa ng PNP ang lahat para tukuyin at hulihin ang mga suspek at matuldukan ang kasong ito,”
(We will continue to give updates regarding the steps of the police force on this. Rest assured that the PNP is doing everything it can to identify and arrest the suspects and bring this case to an end.)
On February 18, Abalos directed the police force to launch manhunt operations to find the suspects behind the gun attack and another official in Lanao del Sur.
On February 17, Gov. Mamintal Adiong Jr. and one of his aides were hurt while four of his police escorts were killed in an ambush near the boundary of Lanao del Sur and Bukidnon.