FILE PHOTO: Philippine National Police
MANILA, Philippines —Friday saw a breakthrough in the investigation into the shooting of Lanao del Sur Governor Mamintal Adiong Jr, with three suspects arrested by the Philippine National Police (PNP), National Police chief Rodolfo Azurin Jr. said on Monday.
The PNP chief has hailed the development as the resolution of the case.
“The investigation on the shooting incident involving Lanao del Sur governor Mamintal Alonto Adiong Jr. can be considered as solved,” Azurin said in a press briefing.
Azurin said the PNP had arrested three alleged gunmen involved in the incident.
Police tracker teams arrested Palawan Salem Macalbo, Nagac Dimatangkil Baratomo, and Amirodin Dimantingkal Mandoc in operation in Kalilangan town in Bukidnon on Friday, March 10.
“The suspects are known members of the Gandawali group engaged in various illegal activities in the bordering towns between Lanao del Sur and Bukidnon, such as marijuana cultivation, robbery, and gunrunning,” Azurin said.
Azurin also said the three suspects sought refuge in a Lumad community in Kalilangan after staging the shooting in Maguing town in Lanao del Sur last February 17.
Another suspect, only identified by the alias “Otin,” also died in an armed encounter last February.
Adiong and his aide Ali Macapado Tabao sustained gunshot wounds from the ambush near the boundary of Lanao del Sur and Bukidnon on Friday, February 17.
Four others were killed in the attack — Adiong’s driver, who was only identified as Kobi, and three members of the governor’s police security detail, Staff Sgt. Mohammad Jurai Adiong, Cpl. Johanie Sumandar and Cpl. Jalil Cosain.