MAGUINDANAO, Philippines – Seven soldiers were wounded yesterday in a firefight with the group of a fugitive mayor included in President Duterte’s list of narco-politicians in Ampatuan town in Maguindanao.
Senior Supt. Agustin Tello, Maguindanao’s provincial police director, confirmed to The STAR that seven Army men who helped search for Ampatuan Mayor Rasul Sangki in the hinterlands of Barangay Salman were wounded in the clash.
The barangay is in the southwestern part of Ampatuan, second district of Maguindanao, a short distance from the scene of the Nov. 23, 2009 Maguindanao massacre.
Hostilities in Barangay Salman erupted when followers of Sangki, armed with M-14 and M-16 assault rifles and 40-millimeter grenade launchers, opened fire at combined Criminal Investigation and Detection Group men and Army troopers who encircled their hideout to serve a warrant of arrest.
Four of Sangki’s followers were killed while three others were wounded in the ensuing encounter.