Three people were killed and one injured in a highway ambush in Mamasapano, Maguindanao del Sur, on Saturday. The assailants targeted a motorcade of auxiliary militia members and a civilian.
Victims Identified and Incident Details
The victims were traveling on two motorcycles from Barangay Barurao toward an army base when they were attacked at around 10:40 a.m.
Mamasapano Municipal Police Station
- Samsamin Labay Kabagani, Civilian Armed Auxiliary member
- Danny Minandang, Civilian Armed Auxiliary member
- Esmael Manabilang, civilian wood gatherer
- Mohamidin Udal Usman, wounded bystander
The motorcade was en route to the Philippine Army’s Bud Wire Detachment when gunmen, who had been waiting along the roadside, opened fire. Initial police investigations revealed that the attackers used high-caliber weapons.
Kabagani and Minandang were killed instantly, while Manabilang succumbed to his injuries shortly after being transported to Bangsamoro Regional Hospital and Medical Center. Usman remains stable after receiving treatment for a gunshot wound.
Authorities are considering various motives for the attack, including potential local conflicts or targeted strikes against auxiliary defense forces active in the Bangsamoro Autonomous Region in Muslim Mindanao (BARMM).
In response to the ambush, police and military units have launched joint operations to apprehend the assailants, who fled the scene on motorcycles. As of now, no suspects have been arrested.