MAGUINDANAO, Philippines – Authorities are still clueless on Friday’s attempt to rob the payroll money from the provincial treasurer in Guindulungan town here.
Osmenia Bandila and his two police escorts were wounded in the attack and are undergoing treatment at a hospital in Cotabato City.
The police and the military have launched a manhunt for the attackers who fled after sensing that they failed to kill Bandila and his companions in an attack in Barangay Macasampen.
The attackers were reportedly aiming for the money that Bandila was supposed to bring to the provincial sattelite office in Buluan town, according to Senior Superintendent Rudilio Jocson, director of the Maguindanao police.
“It was just fortunate that the policemen escorting the provincial treasurer managed to return fire, preventing the attackers from closing in,†Jocson said.
He said the payroll money was found intact inside the victims’ vehicle.
Maguindanao Gov. Esmael Mangudadatu said he would give reward for anybody who could help arrest the attackers.