PSG insists they were ambushed

CAGAYAN DE ORO CITY—The Presidential Security Group (PSG) maintained on Thursday that its men were indeed ambushed earlier this week in southern Marawi city, refuting a claim by a Moro youth group that they made up the story to cover up a potentially embarrassing “accidental” firing of a weapon.

Drieza Lininding, vice chair of the Bangsamoro National  Movement for Peace and Development, said earlier that he had gathered interviews and evidence to show that the incident was apparently caused by a soldier in the security convoy accidentally setting off his weapon.

Six were hurt in the incident, including an advance party of the PSG who were to secure the area ahead of President Duterte’s visit.

Lininding said they asked the residents living near the site of the supposed attack who told them there was no ambush that  took place in Barangay Matampay in Marawi.

The wounded soldiers insisted they were waylaid, but could not immediately say who was behind the attack.

Government troops were however fighting the Maute group in Butig, Lanao del Sur at the time, although it was not clear whether the incidents were connected.

“It was so sudden. Something exploded behind us, we don’t know what it  was,” said Cpl. Vincent Paniza, one of the PSG men who was wounded.

He said he heard gunshots, but stressed he was not able to fire back as he was already wounded at the time.

Private First Class James Gonzales said their convoy came from Iligan City  en route to Marawi.  He was in the lead vehicle, and when it negotiated a steep part of the road, they heard something went off.

“There was an explosion on the side of the road, and after that, they  (armed men) fired at us. We returned fire,” he said.

Gonzales said the soldier beside him was also wounded but claimed he didn’t see who shot them. He also confirmed that it was an improvised bomb that exploded.

President Duterte visited the wounded soldiers and the PSG team here on Wednesday and gave them medals for taking fire while on duty.