Bangsamoro police continue probe of fatal Lanao del Sur ambush

COTABATO CITY — Police investigators and local executives are still trying to put a closure on the fatal ambush of a soldier and a public school teacher on Saturday, in Barangay Lamin in Malabang, Lanao del Sur.

Capt. Steffi P. Salanguit, spokesperson of the Police Regional Office-Bangsamoro Autonomous Region, and Col. Caezar P. Cabuhat, Lanao del Sur provincial police director, separately told reporters on Tuesday, that investigators and intelligence operatives are cooperating in identifying the ambushers for them to be charged in court for their criminal offense.

A soldier from the Army’s 64^th Infantry Battalion, Cpl. Jayson S. Castro, died from bullet wounds sustained in Saturday’s ambush.

Mr. Castro and his companions, among them members of the Citizens Armed Forces Geographical Unit, were in a white Toyota Hilux pick-up truck, returning to their command post from a security mission, when gunmen positioned along a highway in Barangay Lamin opened fire, killing him instantly.

The gunmen also fired M14 and M16 assault rifles at a tricycle trailing the vehicle ridden by Mr. Castro and his companions, killing its passenger, school teacher Hapipa S. Macadato.

The companions of the slain Mr. Castro managed to return fire, forcing their assailants to scamper away. The ambush left the civilian driver of the pick-up truck, Richard Estomen, wounded, now confined to a hospital.

Lanao del Sur Governor Mamintal A. Adiong, Jr. said his office is supporting the ongoing investigation into the incident.

Mr. Adiong said he is ready to provide an earnest monetary incentive to any informant who can help police investigators identify the gunmen responsible for the atrocity.

“I’m optimistic that officials of the Malabang Municipal Police Station and my constituent-leaders in Malabang can identify the gunmen behind it sooner than expected,” Mr. Adiong, chairperson of the multi-sector Lanao del Sur Provincial Peace and Order Council, said. — John Felix M. Unson