By Edwin Fernandez
MIDSAYAP, North Cotabato – A female municipal councilor in the Bangsamoro Autonomous Region in Muslim Mindanao (BARMM) and her husband were injured in a daylight ambush here that left two dead and another resident wounded on Tuesday, police said.
Lt. Col. Oliver Pauya, municipal police station chief, identified the two fatalities as Udin Dalgan, 31, of Sultan Kudarat, Maguindanao del Norte and Rahib Wahab, 35, a tricycle driver and resident of Barangay Sambulawan, Kadayangan, Special Geographic Area (SGA-BARMM).
Injured were Kadayangan Municipal Councilor Saida Endaila; Madron Endaila Jr., 48, retired soldier and husband of the councilor, and Lani Yusop, 20, also of Kadayangan.
“Except for Wahab, all other victims were on a black Toyota Fortuner (NDC 3579), driven by Yusop from Kadayangan town to Midsayap town center, traveling along the national highway in Barangay Salunayan, Midsayap, when gunmen in a white minivan opened fire around 8:45 a.m.,” Pauya told reporters in an interview.
Dalgan was pronounced dead on arrival at a hospital, while Wahab, the tricycle driver, was killed on the spot after he was hit by stray bullet.
Police are looking at a personal grudge or ‘rido’ (family feud) as a possible motive in the ambush.
After the incident, the perpetrators sped away in their vehicle toward Barangay Malingao, also in Kadayangan, SGA-BARMM.
A pursuit operation is underway against the ambushers. (PNA)
