Education exec hurt in Maguindanao ambush

MAGUINDANAO, Philippines  --- Heavily-armed men ambushed and wounded Monday in General S.K. Pendatun town an appointed caretaker of a public schools district office, just more than 30 days after her predecessor was  gunned down by suspected partisans.

The victim, Lilia Pendatun, was driving her Mitsubishi Pajero on her way to the office at the town proper of General S.K. Pendatun when armed men appeared on both sides of the road and opened fire with assault rifles.

The ambushers, some of them wearing black ski masks, immediately scampered away after Pendatun slumped on the wheel,  with wounds on different parts of her body.

The attack came exactly 35 days after suspected partisans shot dead Abas Minso, the supervisor of public schools in the same municipality, while driving his motorcycle on his way to office.

Pendatun, who ranked next to Minso, assumed the latter’s post on a caretaker basis .

Responding policemen and local officials rushed Pendatun to a hospital in Tacurong City, where she is now fighting for her  life.

Maguindanao Gov. Esmael Mangudadatu, chairman of the provincial peace and order council, has ordered the police director of the province, Senior Supt. Rudelio Jocson, to investigate on the incident. 

Mangudadatu said he is willing to put up a modest reward money in exchange for any information that would lead to the arrest of the killers of Minso and the group that ambushed Pendatun.  - John Unson