1 killed, 4 hurt in ambush on candidates’ convoys in Maguindanao, North Cotabato

At least one person was killed while four others were injured in two separate ambuscades against candidates in Maguindanao and North Cotabato on Saturday, the military said.

Kiang Nasser, a nephew of South Upi mayoralty candidate Mohammad Digo “Datu Baba” Omar Jr., was killed when the latter’s convoy was ambushed along in Km 30 of the road in North Upi, Maguindanao, around 5:30 p.m., Army 6th Infantry Division spokesman Col. Dickson Hermoso said.

Omar’s uncle, Turno Omar, was injured and brought to the Datu Blah Sinsuat Hospital.

Omar, a candidate of PDP-Laban, is one of seven people running for mayor of South Upi. Another candidate is incumbent Mayor Abdullah “Bedz” Campong, who is running under the Liberal Party.

Around 11:50 p.m. the same day, three supporters of Floro Allado, a vice mayoralty candidate in Banisilan, North Cotabato, were injured when armed men ambushed his convoy in Brgy. Wadya.

Allado and his supporters were on their way home from campaigning in Brgy. Gastav, on board his Ford Everest and commando-type owner jeep, when they were fired upon, Hermoso said.

The candidate was not hit, but three of his supporters were wounded and brought to the Wao Hospital in Wao, Lanao del Sur, according to the military official.

Allado is one of four people running for vice mayor in Banisilan. (John Roson)

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Palawan bet’s supporters ambushed: at least 2 killed, 6 hurt

At least two people were killed while six others were injured and three more went missing as a mayoralty candidate’s supporters were ambushed by supporters of the a rival candidate, whose husband is the incumbent mayor, in Bataraza, Palawan, on Friday night, police said.

Senior Supt. Atanacio Macalan, Palawan provincial police director, said mayoralty candidate Muslinin Abdurajik’s supporters were passing through Brgy. Igang Igang on a Toyota Revo around 11:47 p.m. when they were fired upon by several armed men.

The armed men are supporters of incumbent Mayor Abraham Ibba’s wife, Katrina, who is also running for mayor, Macalan said in a phone interview.

A still unidentified male died on the spot while a girl, estimated to be 14 to 16 years old, was found dead inside a nearby house after the attack, he said.

”Yung na-ambush ay nasa sasakyan, nakasakay sila sa Revo… di pa matiyak kung saan papunta. Siguro ‘yung babae nahagip ‘yun sa crossfire, kasi sa loob ng bahay namatay,” Macalan said.

Six persons were injured and have been brought to a local hospital, but one of them reportedly expired Saturday morning, the police official said.

“Mayroon pang reported na nawawala na tatlo, baka ‘yung pasaheros nung Revo pati ‘yung driver, na siguro nakatakas nung nagbabakbakan, o binabakbakan sila, at grabe yung sugat nila, kaya hindi pa narerecover,” Macalan said.

Six persons believed to be among those who carried out the ambush were arrested when members of the Bataraza Police and Marine troopers launched pursuit operations, he added.

Abdurajik is running for mayor of Bataraza under the Nationalist People’s Coalition against incumbent Mayor Ibba’s wife, Katrina, who is running under the National Unity Party, according to the Commission on Elections’ list of candidates. (John Roson)

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2 consultants of Quezon governor killed in ambush

Two consultants of re-electionist Quezon Gov. David Suarez were found dead after being “ambushed” by armed men in Tiaong on Monday night, police said.

Supt. Laudemer Llaneta, Tiaong Police chief, identified the fatalities as Genesis Castillo and Sharon Matibag, both “rural development consultants” at the provincial governor’s office.

Castillo and Matibag were found dead at a grassy lot in Sitio Dela Fuente, Brgy. Lagalag, around 10:30 p.m.

“Inambush sila, sakay sila ng motorsiklo. Nung unang makita ng mga residente, inakalang regular na traffic accident lang kaya itinayo pa ‘yung motorsiklo nila,” Llaneta said in a phone interview.

Responding policemen found eight spent shells of an M14 Carbine rifle and two slugs of a still undetermined type of firearm at the scene.

Residents, however, told police that they did not see what actually happened as the area was dark, Llaneta said.

“Sa di kalayuan may isang bahay kung saan may nakadinig daw ng mga putok ng baril pero akala rebentador lang kaya hindi pinansin,” the police official added.

Llaneta said investigators are still studying some “documents” recovered from Castillo and Matibag, in hopes to determine the motive for the killing.

Governor Suarez is seeking re-election under the National Unity Party, according to the Commission on Elections’ list of candidates. (John Roson)

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8 killed as troops clash with Abu Sayyaf in Basilan

Two Army personnel, including an officer, and six suspected Abu Sayyaf members were killed as government troops clashed with bandits who ambushed them in Al Barka, Basilan, on Monday, military officials said.

Col. Carlito Galvez, commander of the Army’s 104th Brigade, identified the fatalities on the government side as Maj. Alin Kannung, executive officer of the 32nd Infantry Battalion, and Tsgt. Ferdinand Costan.

Six suspected Abu Sayyaf members were killed but only two bodies, identified to be those of a certain “Mingkong” and Mardan Sapilin, were recovered, Galvez said.

Four other soldiers, including Cpl. Julambre Sabri of the 18th Infantry Battalion, were injured during the clash while three Abu Sayyaf members wer reportedly wounded, he said.

The clash occurred around 3 p.m. while members of the 32nd and 18th IB were passing through Sitio Pagtawanan, Brgy. Magcawa, on military vehicles.

The soldiers were on their way to Brgy. Bohe Piang to distribute livestock and inspect future projects of the Office of the Presidential Adviser on the Peace Process (OPAPP), when they were ambushed by about 30 fully-armed men, Galvez said.

The armed men are members of the Abu Sayyaf and Bangsamoro Islamic Freedom Fighters led by Basir Kasaran alias Commander Basir and Musana Jamiri, he said.

“The government forces were subjected to mortar and sniper fires for three hours,” Galvez said.

“Naka-dismount naman ‘yung mga tropa natin during that and were able to fight back,” he said.

Kannung, a native of Tipo-Tipo, was a former Moro National Liberation Front (MNLF) commander who was integrated into the Armed Forces after the government signed a peace agreement with that rebel group in 1996, Col. Rodrigo Gregorio, AFP Western Mindanao spokesman, said.

After joining the AFP, Kannung had been “very active” in the campaign against the Abu Sayyaf in Basilan and this is believed to be the cause of the bandits’ hatred on him, Gregorio said.

Kannung’s group was to distribute goats and other livestock as part of the 104th Brigade’s livelihood assistance to residents of Brgys. Kambug and Bohe Piang, when they were ambushed, according to the regional military spokesman.

The area is the “home base” of Commander Dan Asnawi, Gregorio said.

Asnawi commands an armed unit of the Moro Islamic Liberation Front (MILF) with whom soldiers figured in a bloody clash on Oct. 18, 2011. Nineteen soldiers and five MILF guerrillas died in that fighting.

Gregorio said all the soldiers who were injured in Monday’s clash have been airlifted to the Camp Navarro Station Hospital in Zamboanga City.

Members of the 18th IB, backed by members of the 4th Scout Ranger Battalion, continued distributing livestock to residents of Brgy. Magcawa on Tuesday, despite the ambush, Galvez said. (John Roson)

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Catanduanes mayor escapes ambush

Armed men ambushed the vehicle of re-electionist Mayor Abelardo Abundo of Viga, Catanduanes, on Monday, but no one was injured, police said.

The incident occurred while Abundo and some companions were on their way to conduct a “house-to-house campaign” in Brgy. Buenavista, Supt. Renato Bataller, Bicol regional police spokesman, said.

Abundo’s black van was passing through Brgy. Soboc when it was shot at, Bataller said, citing an initial field report.

A bullet hit the vehicle’s windshield and ricocheted to the dashboard, he said.

The slug was recovered and has been identified as that of a caliber-.45 pistol, Bataller said.

Other details were not immediately available as Abundo was still having the incident recorded at the Viga Police Station Monday evening, he said.

Abundo is seeking re-election under the Lakas-Christian and Muslim Democrats, according to the Commission on Elections’ list of candidates. (John Roson)

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Iloilo mayor’s husband, pal killed in ambush

Two people, including the husband of re-electionist Mayor Ligaya Apura of Lemery, Iloilo, were killed while another person was injured in an ambush Monday morning, police said.

Apura’s husband Jun and a companion identified only as “Espaldon” were rushed to the Sara District Hospital but both expired along the way, Insp. Asension Ortizo, Lemery Police chief, said in a phone interview.

Another companion of the mayor’s husband is still undergoing treatment in the same hospital due to bullet wounds, Ortizo said.

The incident occurred around 9 a.m. while the mayor’s husband and his companions were travelling along the National Highway in Brgy. Anabo, on board an Isuzu Trooper.

The vehicle was heading towards the adjacent town of San Rafael, when several armed men on a silver Ford Everest and a silver Toyota Hi-Lux tailed and opened fire upon it, Ortizo said.

“Sinabayan ‘yung Trooper tapos pinaputukan nung mga armado, ang initial info sa amin ay parang naka-ambush position na ‘yung dalawang sasakyan before that,” he said.

Several empty shells of an M16 Armalite rifle and an M14 Carbine rifle were found at the scene.

A pursuit operation launched by members of the Lemery Police resulted in the arrest of one Mario Cobarubias, who was seen hiding in a nearby sugar cane plantation.

Cobarubias, who is believed to have jumped off from one of the attackers’ vehicles, yielded two hand grenades and an M14 rifle, Ortizo said.

The suspect, a native of the adjacent town of Dumarao, Capiz, has been brought to the Iloilo Police Provincial Office, he said.

Ortizo said he is now coordinating with police in Capiz as the attackers’ vehicles were reportedly seen heading towards that province.

Police are looking at land dispute as the possible motive for the attack, but have not yet ruled out politics.

Apura is seeking re-election under the local party Abyan Ilonggo, which is allied with the United Nationalist Alliance, according to the Commission on Elections’ list of candidates. (John Roson)

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9 killed, 6 hurt in Negros Occidental rebel ambush

A member of the police’s forensics team examining the crime scene while two of the slain lie nearby. (Photo from Negros Occidental PNP)

[more photos here] (Update) Nine people, including a policeman, were killed while at least six others were injured in an ambush by suspected New People’s Army (NPA) members in La Castellana, Negros Occidental, early Sunday, police said.

Chief Insp. Rico Santotome, provincial police spokesman, said the fatalities include PO1 Richard Canja, assigned at the La Castellana Police Station.

The eight other fatalities were barangay tanods, members of the Barangay Peacekeeping Action Team (BPAT), and a tanod’s wife, Santotome, who went to the area after the incident, said in a phone interview.

He identified them as tanods Mario Ricablanca and Tiotimo Esplegera of Brgy. Puso, BPAT members Ulysses Tamayor, Jonathan Mateo and Ramir Complesa, civilians Lito Lucban and Virginia Ordonez, and truck driver Ricky Dingcong.

Some of the victims still lying inside the truck. (Photo from Negros Occidental PNP)

Two other policemen, identified as PO3 Constantino Villegas and PO2 Jeffrey Alvarez, and at least four civilians were injured in the attack and have been brought to hospitals, Santotome said.

The incident occurred around 3:45 a.m. while members of the La Castellana Police, BPAT, tanods, and some of their family members, including children, were passing through a remote area in Brgy. Puso on a Canter truck.

The policemen, tanods, and BPAT members had just finished providing security to the barangay fiesta, Santotome said.

About 30 fully-armed men flagged down the truck, told the children to disembark from the vehicle, and then fired upon those who were left on board, he said.

“Nung pinarahan, dun nagstop ‘yung truck, dun nila (armed men) binanatan and then pina-ano pa, finishing, lalo na ‘yung pulis, tinira pa sa ulo para ma-ensure na patay,” Santotome said.

The rebels, who took at least three M16 rifles and three caliber-.45 pistols from the victims, are believed to have withdrawn to neighboring Negros Oriental after the incident.

Provincial police director Senior Supt. Celestino Guara has ordered the Provincial Public Safety Company to pursue the rebels with the help of the Army’s Special Forces and Scout Rangers, Santotome said. (John Roson)

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Soldier killed, 6 hurt in rebel landmine attack; troops’ homes raided

One soldier was killed while at least six others were injured when suspected New People’s Army (NPA) members detonated a landmine against a convoy of military trucks in Lupon, Davao Oriental, early Tuesday, the military said.

Private first class Jhasam Diaz of the 28th Infantry Battalion expired while being brought to a hospital, Army 10th Infantry Division spokesman Lt. Col. Lyndon Paniza said.

Six other soldiers were wounded and are now being treated at the Tagum Regional Hospital and Davao Oriental Provincial Hospital in Mati City, Paniza said.

The attack occurred around 12:20 a.m., while Diaz and other members of the 28th IB’s “peace and development team” were passing through Sitio Mainit, Brgy. Calapagan, on two military trucks.

The team was heading back to its headquarters when a landmine exploded and hit the rear portion of the second vehicle, Paniza said.

The attacked troops had just finished providing security to other soldiers who are conducting rehabilitation operations in areas affected by typhoon “Pablo,” according to the regional military spokesman.

“The NPA again showed barbarism and inhuman acts by disturbing our humanitarian assistance activities,” Paniza said.

Troops’ homes raided

Meanwhile, suspected NPA members raided homes of active and retired soldiers, as well as a former policeman, in Kinoguitan, Misamis Oriental, around 6 a.m. Tuesday.

About 25 fully-armed men “simultaneously ransacked” the houses of Pfc. Benjamin Timbal, of the 58th Infantry Battalion; retired Ssgt. Eliseo Salvacion; and retired PO4 Ananias Requerme in Purok 4, Brgy. Poblacion, Army 4th Infantry Division spokesman Lt. Col. Eugenio Osias said.

The rebels also raided the homes of former municipal councilor Benito Salvacion and one Vionica Llagas, Northern Mindanao regional police spokesman Supt. Ronnie Francis Cariaga said.

The raiders took Army camouflage uniforms, a pair of combat boots, a caliber-.45 pistol, four cellular phones, and other personal belongings before fleeing towards hilly part of Brgy. Buko Gamay, he said.

No one was reported injured during the raids.

Members of the 58th IB were sent to pursue the rebels, Osias said. (John Roson)

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2 killed, 6 hurt in Cotabato City ambush

Two persons were killed and six others, including a barangay chairman, were injured in an ambush in Cotabato City on Wednesday morning, police said.

Killed were Brgy. Rosary Heights 5 chairman Amil Sula’s 18-year-old niece Sherasmine Salik Abdullah and the van’s driver, Paik Sultan, Cotabato City Police deputy chief for operations Supt. Marlou Martinez said.

Sula, his wife Jenna, aunt Baikan Salik Abdullah, Muslima Mita Salik, Taya Macalnas, all suffered bullet wounds to the different parts of the body.

The barangay chairman’s 7-year-old daughter is in critical condition, Martinez, who is also the city police’s spokesman, said in a phone interview.

A distant cousin of Sula, identified as Bai Jasmine Abdullah, and a 12-year-old relative survived the attack unscathed.

Sula, his family, and relatives were travelling along Don Rabago st., Brgy. Rosary Heights 4, on a Toyota Hi-Ace van (BEL-263) around 7:15 a.m. when an undetermined number of armed men fired upon their vehicle.

“Within city proper naman ‘yun although hindi ‘yun masyadong dinadaanan, dun sila tinambangan sa may sementeryo… binakbakan sila hanggang sa napahinto sila dun malapit sa DPWH building,” Martinez said.

The attackers used high-powered firearms and “many” empty cartridges of different calibers were found at the scene, he said.

Police conducted checkpoints in different parts of the city after the incident, but the operations have so far yielded negative results, Martinez said.

“Sa ngayon, ang intelligence operatives natin ay naka-deploy lahat, naghahanap tayo ng information, bini-beef up din ‘yung mobile patrolling natin,” he said.

Investigators have yet to determine the motive for the attack, but are not discounting the possibility that it was politically-motivated, according to the police official.

“Open pa ‘yun (political angle), lahat ng anggulo, kakausapin muna natin si kapitan, para malaman natin kung anong motive, sa ngayon lahat open pa,” Martinez said. (John Roson)

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Troops ambushed in Leyte: 1 killed, 2 hurt

One soldier was killed and two others were injured in an ambush by New People’s Army (NPA) members in Albuera, Leyte, Friday afternoon, the military said Saturday.

Killed was Pfc. Richard Abines, of Paranas, Samar, Capt. Dranreb Canto, spokesman of the Army’s 802nd Infantry Brigade based in Ormoc City, said.

Two other soldiers, identified as Pfc. Jay Baysa, of Pinabacdao, Samar, and Pfc. Frederic Mar, of Jamindan, Capiz, suffered bullet wounds to the legs and are now being treated at the OSPA hospital in Ormoc, Canto said.

The incident occurred around 4 p.m. while Abines and 15 other members of the 78th Infantry Battalion were passing through Sitio Calingatnan, Brgy. San Pedro, on a KM-450 truck.

About 10 rebels fired upon the military vehicle, Canto said.

The troops were on there way back to their headquarters after checking on “issues that were brought to their attention by residents,” he said.

Troops are now pursuing the attackers, Canto said.

The incident occurred barely a year after Leyte was declared as a “manageable conflict-affected” and “development-ready” province on Dec. 8, 2011, Canto said.

Military activities in the province have been focused on development projects since the declaration, he said. (John Roson)

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