ONE of the five suspects in a deadly ambush on the convoy of Lanao del Sur Governor Mamintal Adiong Jr. last week was killed in a gunfight with pursuing policemen, Philippine National Police (PNP) Chief General Rodolfo S. Azurin Jr. said on Wednesday.

The slain suspect, identified only as alias “Otin” yielded a Colt MK IV caliber .45 semi-automatic pistol with a magazine containing six live ammunition.

The gun with serial numbers intact was ordered subject to a ballistics examination to determine if it was used in last Friday’s ambush or previous shooting incidents in the province.

According to Azurin, members of the Police Regional Office Bangsamoro Autonomous Region (PRO BAR) under Brigadier Gen. John G. Guyguyon neutralized the suspect during a hot pursuit operation.

Officers from the Maguing Municipal Police Station (MPS) and the Lanao del Sur Police Provincial Mobile Force Company (PMFC), and Provincial Intelligence Unit (PIU) were involved in the operation, which killed the suspect, who was described as the son of another suspect in the Adiong ambush identified only as “Fighter.”

Azurin recognized the efforts of the operatives involved in the operation, “I commend the bravery and dedication of our police officers who risked their lives to bring the perpetrators of this heinous crime to justice. The successful pursuit operation shows that the PNP will not tolerate lawlessness and will do everything in our power to ensure the safety and security of our people,” he said.

The top cop said that BARMM (Bangsamoro Autonomous Region in Muslim Mindanao) police investigators are constantly monitoring and coordinating with the victims and their families to obtain their statements regarding the incident for the filing of appropriate criminal complaints.

“We condemn this senseless act of violence against our public servants. We assure the public that the PNP will exhaust all efforts to bring the perpetrators to justice. We stand in solidarity with the families of the victims, and we will not rest until those responsible are held accountable for their actions,” he added.

The PNP chief also urged anybody with information regarding the whereabouts of the remaining suspects to come forward and help in the ongoing investigation.

Police earlier said they are pursuing several “persons of interest” in a deadly ambush in Maguing, Lanao del Sur, which killed three officers and a driver and wounded Gov. Adiong Jr. and one of his staff and prompted the suspension of all gun permits in the province as well as Lanao del Sur and parts of North Cotabato.

Philippine National Police (PNP) Spokesperson Colonel Jean Fajardo, the names of the POIs have been mentioned by witnesses and the survivors of the deadly attack.

“Those names are already being subjected to a thorough validation so that criminal charges could be filed against them if evidence warrants,” the official said.

Fajardo did not name names, although she said that investigators from the Police Regional Office Bangsamoro Administrative Region (PRO-BARMM) under Brigadier Gen. John G. Guyguyon are already following-up “good leads” that could help them identify and arrest the gunmen and their “brains.”

Guyguyon said they are validating reports that at least ten armed men were behind the attack.

The incident prompted PNP Chief Gen. Rodolfo S. Azurin Jr. to order the indefinite suspension of Permits-to-Carry-Firearms-Outside-of-Residence or PTCFORs in Maguindanao, Lanao del Sur, and 63 barangays in North Cotabato which the PRO-BARMM described as “Special Geographic Areas.”

The suspension of the PTCFORs issued to licensed gun-holders in those areas started last Saturday, with all local police units instructed to check persons roaming around with firearms and other weapons.

PTCFOR holders who will be found carrying their licensed guns in the three regions will be arrested and charged for violation of the Republic Act (RA) 10591 or the Comprehensive Firearms and Ammunition Act of 2013.

Azurin said they have to impose the “gun ban” in the three regions to prevent an escalation of firearm-related violence.

On Saturday, combined troops from the Armed Forces and the PNP pressed their hunt for the gunmen who waylaid the victims along a highway in Barangay Dilimbayan in Maguing, Lanao del Sur, around 4 p.m. Friday.

Police said that the suspects fired their automatic rifles at the two vehicles bearing the governor and his escorts, who were then on their way to Wao municipality.

As a result, Gov. Adiong and his staff, Ali Macapado Tabao, were injured and taken to a local hospital in Kalilangan, Bukidnon, for treatment under heavy guard.

The governor was struck by a bullet on the right part of the waist, while Tabao was shot in 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 to the Lanao del Sur Provincial Police Office headquarters, while Sumandar is a member of the Marawi City Police Station.

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 ALFRED DALIZON & ZAIDA DELOS REYES