By Jim Lloyd Dongiapon
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Assailants killed the chief of police of the municipality of Ampatuan, Maguindanao and his escort and wounded three others in an ambush Tuesday morning, August 30, according to officials from the Philippine National Police (PNP) and the Armed Forces of the Philippines (AFP)
The victims were identified as Police (PLt.) Lieutenant Reynaldo Samson, Ampatuan Municipal Police Station chief, and Police Corporal (PCpl.). Salipudin Endab.
According to Maguindanao Police Provincial Office (PPO) Director Police Colonel (PCol.) Christopher Panapan, an armed group from the Bangsamoro Islamic Freedom Fighters (BIFF) led by Commander Boy Jacket under the Karialan faction and Commander Abdulnasser Sabtula Guianid, ambushed the personnel from Ampatuan MPS, led by PLt. Samson while traversing Sitio Pasio, Barangay Kapimpilan, in Ampatuan.
This resulted in the deaths of Samson and Endab. Three others from their team were wounded.
The group led by Boy Jacket and Guianid retreated when additional forces from the PNP and AFP arrived at the scene.
Panapan added that Samson and his team were supposed to serve a warrant of arrest in the area against Kamir Kambal for robbery and intimidation of persons as part of a one-time-big-time implementation.
Prior to the ambush, Ampatuan MPS had already reported to Maguindanao PPO on August 23, 2022 that they had received information that the group of Guianid planned to kill Samson at any opportune time due to the strict implementation of traffic rules and regulations in the municipality.
The PNP and AFP have launched a joint operation against the suspects.
Meanwhile, intelligence units of Maguindanao PPO will monitor the developments of the said incident and will provide new information once obtained.