Lanao Sur town cop chief survives NPA ambush, baby killed

CAMP SK PENDATUN, Maguindanao – Suspected members of New
Peoples’ Army (NPA) ambushed Thursday afternoon the police chief of a town in
Lanao del Sur in Bukidnon, leaving a child dead, a police injured and three
other cops abducted by the suspects.

Chief Inspector Jemar delos Santos, spokesperson of
police in the Autonomous Region in Muslim Mindanao (ARMM), said Police Inspector
Joven Acuesta, chief of Amai Manabilang town, was on board a Toyota Fortuner
(UNI-707) with female companions and a baby traveling from Cagayan de Oro City
to Wao, Lanao del Sur.

While in Kilometer 23, Barangay Tikalaan, Talakag,
Bukidnon, the Fortuner was ambushed at about 5:30 p.m.

Talakag is about 4 hours travel from here.

Delos Santos said a 4-month old baby girl was killed
while Inspector Acuesta and two unidentified female companions were wounded.

Delos Santos said the Fortuner where Acuesta was on
board was tailing a police car of Amai Manabilang police office when the ambush
occurred.

Acuesta and the other victims were rushed by
civilians to Kalilangan provincial hospital and later transferred to Malaybalay
City hospital.

Three other police officers on board the patrol car
were taken hostage by the gunmen.

Delos Santos could not say if the baby and the
female passengers were Acuesta’s relatives.

Delos Santos said pursuit operations are still going
on.Photos below show the victims' vehicle courtesy of M. Montes. Image may contain one or more people motorcycle and outdoor sand//scontent.fcgy1-1.fna.fbcdn.net/v/t1.0-9/23434816_1688211471245051_373834451174272219_n.jpg?oh=95f33d56c8a0015f38e72b592601532dandampoe=5AA349F4 Image may contain laptop and indoor sand//scontent.fcgy1-1.fna.fbcdn.net/v/t1.0-9/23379985_1688211227911742_5334062485301799015_n.jpg?oh=ee63d2dd74dc9e1bfd0701f54c9df24candampoe=5AA91BA9