DEPARTMENT of the Interior and Local Government (DILG) Secretary Benjamin “Benhur” Abalos, Jr. Saturday directed the Philippine National Police (PNP) to conduct manhunt operations against the suspects behind the ambush of Lanao del Sur Governor Mamintal “Bombit” Alonto-Adiong, Jr. at around 4:00 p.m., Friday in the town of Maguing of the said province.

“Mariin kong kinokondena ang ginawang pag-ambush kay Governor Bombit at sa kanyang mga kasamahan. Agad akong nagbigay ng direktiba sa PNP na magsagawa ng manhunt operations upang agad na mahuli ang mga suspek sa insidenteng ito,” said Abalos.

According to reports from the ground, the governor and his convoy were traversing Sitio Landslide headed towards the municipality of Wao when they were ambushed by unidentified gunmen.

The governor and a member of his staff were wounded in the incident and are now under medical treatment at a nearby hospital. Four of his police escorts, however, were killed in the incident.

“Bagamat nakaligtas si Gov. Bombit, napakalungkot na nasawi ang ilan sa kanyang mga kasamahan sa insidente. Lubos kaming nakikidalamhati sa pamilya ng mga nasawi at asahan ninyo na hindi titigil ang ating kapulisan hanggang hindi nahuhuli at nabibilanggo ang mga suspek,” said the DILG chief.

“Ang buong puwersa ng ating kapulisan sa Lanao del Sur at sa mga karatig lugar ay kumikilos na sa mga oras na ito para agad na masukol ang mga responsable sa krimeng ito,” added Abalos.

Abalos also ordered the PNP to closely coordinate with the military units on the ground in hunting down the suspects and finding out the motive behind the incident.

In a related development, combined troops from the Armed Forces of the Philippines (AFP) and the PNP on Saturday pressed their hunt for the gunmen who ambushed the convoy of the Lanao del Sur governor, injuring the official and one of his men and killing four security escorts.

The governor was reportedly struck by a bullet on the right part of the waist while his staff was shot on his feet.

Killed in the attack were Police Staff Sergeant Mohammad Adiong; Corporal Johani Sumandar, 39; Cpl. Jalil Coasin, 40; and their civilian driver identified only as “Kobi.”

Adiong and Cosain are both Marawi City residents, while Sumandar is from Piagapo, Lanao del Sur.

Adiong and Coasin are both assigned at the Lanao del Sur Provincial Police Office (PPO) headquarters, while Sumandar is a member of the Marawi City Police Station.

As of press time, the motive and identities of the gunmen are still being investigated by the PNP as Gen. Rodolfo S. Azurin Jr. ordered concerned police units led by the Bangsamoro Administrative Region Police Regional Office headed by Brigadier Gen. John G. Guyguyon to ensure that “no stones will be left unturned in their effort to unmask the killers and send them behind bars.”

A brother of the governor, Lanao del Sur 1st District Representative Zia Alonto Adiong said the former is already in “very stable condition” and the “worst has passed.”

“He’s out of danger. We are heartbroken over the deaths of his security details, all of whom are family members who were with my brother during the violent attack. We offer our deepest sympathies to all of our bereaved loved ones,” the lawmaker said.

The Alonto family called on authorities “to utilize all legal means available to pursue and bring the perpetrators to justice.” BY JUN I. LEGASPI & ALFRED DALIZON