ZAMBOANGA CITY, Philippines — Authorities closed the main gate of Mindanao State University (MSU) on Friday after a stray bullet killed an executive of the Civil Service Commission (CSC) in Marawi City Thursday, security officials said.
Capt. Jo-Ann Petinglay, the spokesperson of Western Mindanao Command (Westmincom) and Joint Task Force Marawi, said the main gate was closed as the incident occurred just outside the premises fronting Gate 1 where Marvin Ablando was hit by a stray bullet.
The classes, however, were not disrupted and have been ongoing as an alternate route was opened to allow those coming in and out of the university premises, according to Petinglay.
"May alternate route ginawa for the safety of the people going in and out MSU,” Petinglay said.
Ablando, 45, assistant director of the field office of the CSC in the Autonomous Region in Muslim Mindanao, and his director Sandra Arnica Uzman were on their way to the provincial capitol of Lanao del Sur when a stray bullet hit their service, killing the victim.
The same bullet slightly injured Usman who was seated at the back of the vehicle.
The military could not say if the bullet that hit the car of the victims was a direct shot fired by any suspect.
Petinglay said based on their investigation, the incident occurred the same time when two military choppers lifted off near the area.
“Binabaril kasi ng Maute Group ang ating chopper na dumadaan doon,” Petinglay said.