Maguindanao prov'l treasurer, 2 cops hurt in ambush

MAGUINDANAO, Philippines – Gunmen ambushed and wounded the provincial treasurer of Maguindanao and his two police escorts at past 2:00 p.m. Friday in Guindulungan town.

Provincial Treasurer Osmenia Bandila and his two security escorts were bound for Buluan town in the second district of Maguindanao from Cotabato City bringing with them an undetermined amount of payroll money when they were attacked.

The attackers, positioned on one side of the Cotabato-Isulan Highway in Barangay Macasampen in Guindulugan, shot Bandila's vehicle with M14 and M16 assault rifles, provoking an encounter with the official's police escorts.

Bandila and his companions, identified only as PO1 Tan and PO1 Dalit, were wounded in the initial volley of fire, according to initial reports reaching the regional police headquarters of the Autonomous Region in Muslim Mindanao in Camp S.K. Pendatun in Parang, Maguindanao.

The attackers reportedly arrived at the scene on board an old yellow Toyota Tamaraw jeepney with license plates MVK 846, an hour before they ambushed Bandila and his companions, who were riding in a grey Toyota Fortuner.

The victims’ vehicle was riddled with bullets and its windshield shattered.

Witnesses said the two policemen escorting Bandila managed to jump out of the Fortuner and engaged their attackers in a firefight.

The gunmen scampered away when they ran out of ammunition.

Investigators were still trying to determine if the attackers managed to take with them the payroll money that Bandila and his escorts were supposed to deliver to the Maguindanao satellite office in Buluan town.