Lanao del Norte mayor survives ambush; 4 security escorts killed

Update (4:37 p.m.)

PANTAO RAGAT, Lanao del Norte – Four persons were killed when unidentified armed men ambushed the vehicle of Mayor Lacson Lantud on Sunday morning.

Lt. Col. Bernie Taquiban, the commander of the 4th Mechanized Infantry Battalion, said that based on the initial report he received, the attempt on the mayor’s life occurred in Barangay Cabasagan here, near Poona Piagapo town past 10 a.m.

While Lantud was unscathed, four of his security escorts were killed.

The fatalities were identified as Khaliq Disamburon, an official of Barangay Lomidong here; Hasanoding Hasim, a retired policeman; Police Officer 2 Mahid Macalaba, a member of the local police and an escort of Lantud; and one identified as Tarapas Saro. A man, identified as Farmon Macalimba, was injured.

The Pantao Ragat police said Lantud’s two-vehicle convoy  was on its way to Sitio Paigma Lapresa where the mayor will inspect a water project when they were fired upon by a still undetermined number of gunmen around 9:20 a.m.

Investigations are ongoing to determine the identity and motive of the perpetrators.

Lantud was known to have “rido” or feud with various groups in Lanao del Norte, including the group of Abdullah Macapaar, alias Commander Bravo of the Moro Islamic Liberation Front (MILF). /ee