Bukidnon mayor killed in NPA ambush

MANILA, Philippines - The mayor of the first-class town of Impasug-ong in Bukidnon was killed in an ambush by suspected New People’s Army (NPA) guerrillas yesterday morning, the military said.

Maj. Gen. Ricardo Visaya, commander of the Army’s 4th Infantry Brigade based in Cagayan de Oro City, said Mayor Mario Okinlay died at around 11:30 a.m., nearly three hours after the ambush, while being treated at the Polymedic Hospital in Malaybalay City.

Okinlay and at least 20 municipal employees were traveling in a convoy of motorcycles with police and Army escorts from a “Hatud Serbisyo,” an outreach program, when the ambush took place in the vicinity of Barangay Bontongon at around 8:20 a.m. The mayor was driving his own motorcycle.

The soldiers and policemen traded fire, forcing the insurgents to withdraw, as Okinlay’s companions rushed him to Malaybalay City.

“Mayor Okinlay is the only casualty and pursuit operation is now underway against the rebel ambushers,” Visaya said.

Former senator Juan Miguel Zubiri, who dropped by the hospital, said Okinlay died from multiple gunshot wounds.

Zubiri condemned the ambush-killing and called on authorities to after the perpetrators.

Early last year, some 200 guerrillas swooped down on Impasug-ong and two neighboring towns, leaving a security guard of a pineapple plantation dead and three other civilians wounded.

Prior to yesterday’s ambush, Okinlay had been the target of an NPA liquidation squad for his anti-communist stand. He was also known for his anti-crime efforts.

Inspector Joann Galvez, spokesperson of the Bukidnon police, said police authorities in Impasug-ong were informed last week about an NPA plot to kill Okinlay who, in turn, took precautionary measures.

Galvez said all police stations in Bukidnon have been alerted and mayors were advised to be security-conscious.

Okinlay was first elected mayor in 1998 and served until 2007. He was replaced by his wife, Julia, in 2007-2010. He regained the mayoral post in 2010 and was re-elected last year. – With Cecille Suerte Felipe, Gerry Lee Gorit