Cops prepare case vs Maguindanao prov'l treasurer attackers

MAGUINDANAO, Philippines - Investigators now have the identities of the gunmen behind the ambush of the provincial government's treasurer in Guindulungan town last December 13.

Gov. Esmael Mangudadatu, chairman of the provincial peace and order council, said the police will file corresponding criminal charges against the attackers of Osmena Bandila as soon as they have completed the documentation of the incident.

Mangudadatu declined to reveal the suspects’ identities, pending the filing of criminal cases against them.

Bandila and his two police escorts were wounded in the ambush. They are still confined in a hospital in the province.

“The ambushers have been identified and they will be prosecuted,” Mangudadatu said.

Bandila and his companions were on their way to the provincial satellite office in Buluan town from Cotabato City on board a gray Toyota Fortuner when the gunmen, positioned at one side of the highway in Barangay Macasampen in Guindulungan, shot their vehicle with M14 and M16 assault rifles.

The wounded escorts of Bandila managed to return fire, preventing their attackers from closing in.

The suspects scampered to different directions after sensing that responding barangay officials and soldiers have started arriving at the scene.