Maguindanao treasurer, 2 others wounded in ambush

KIDAPAWAN CITY, North Cotabato—Three persons, including the Maguindanao provincial treasurer, were wounded in an ambush by still unidentified armed men Friday afternoon while the official was transporting money from Cotabato City, the authorities said.

Provincial Treasurer Osmeña Bandila and his two police escorts were in a Toyota Fortuner heading toward Buluan, Maguindanao, from Cotabato City when gunmen opened fire in Barangay Macasampen, Guindulungan, Maguindanao at 2:30 p.m.

The assailants were armed with M-14 and M-16 Armalite rifles, police  said.

Bandila and his police escorts, initially identified as PO1 Tan and PO1 Dalit, were wounded.

Police field reports reaching the office of Chief Supt. Noel Delos Reyes, police regional director for the Autonomous Region in Muslim Mindanao, showed that the gunmen arrived in Barangay Macasampen an hour before the ambush.

As the grey Fortuner of Bandila was approaching, the gunmen opened fire, witnesses told investigators.

The official’s car was riddled with bullets and its windshield was shattered.

Bandila’s companions managed to return fire, forcing the assailants to escape.

Bandila and his police escorts were rushed to a hospital in Cotabato City.

Police said Bandila was carrying a large amount of cash for the provincial government’s employees’ payroll.

Senior Supt. Rodelio Jocson, Maguindanao police chief, said manhunt, backed by the military, was still going on.

Police are still trying to determine if the assailants managed to take any of the money.