Gunmen Ambush Suspected Shabu Carrier in Maguindanao
Unidentified gunmen ambushed a man carrying suspected shabu along a national highway in Maguindanao del Sur, seriously wounding him. The incident unfolded in Datu Anggal Midtimbang town, according to officials reporting the attack.
The man, identified as Aldren Arendain Almento, 41, was driving a silver Toyota Innova when the assailants opened fire. Sources said the attack occurred at around 9 a.m. in Sitio Ataw, Barangay Tulunan, within the same municipality.
Details of the Ambush and Police Response
Lt. Colonel Jopy Ventura, representing the Bangsamoro Autonomous Region in Muslim Mindanao (BARMM) police, confirmed that Almento, a resident of Apopong village in General Santos City, was the victim. The attackers were reportedly armed with assault rifles, which they used to ambush the vehicle on the national highway.
Community members noted that responding officers from nearby Talayantown quickly arrived at the scene. They then rushed Almento to a hospital in Cotabato City for urgent medical treatment.
Seizure of Illegal Items from the Victim
During the investigation, police discovered suspected shabu, a pistol, and ammunition inside the victim’s vehicle. Officials reported that these findings are currently being examined as part of the ongoing case.
Context Amid Election Gun Ban Enforcement
The ambush took place while authorities were enforcing the election gun ban ahead of the region’s first parliamentary elections. Local leaders highlighted the heightened security measures amid the election period in BARMM.
Despite investigations, the motive behind the attack and the identities of the gunmen remain unknown. Police continue to probe the incident as they seek to bring the perpetrators to justice.
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