Woman dies of heart attack after firefight in Maguindanao

From ABS-CBN (Mar 12): Woman dies of heart attack after firefight in Maguindanao

A 45-year-old woman died of heart attack after a suspected mortar round fell near an evacuation center in Barangay Sambolawan in Datu Salibo, Maguindanao Thursday night.

The victim was identified by her relatives as Babai Lagensay.

Mohaimen Antao, a nephew of the victim, said his aunt panicked when a firefight erupted around 7 p.m.

"May nahulog na mortar sa tabi ng evacuation center, ninerbyos siya tapos dinala namin sa hospital... inatake sa puso," Antao said.

The victim died in a Cotabato City hospital at around 6 p.m. on Friday.

Captain Jo-Ann Petinglay, spokesperson for the 6th Infantry Division, confirmed there was skirmish happening when members of the Bangsamoro Islamic Freedom Fighter (BIFF) harassed the military detachment in Barangay Sambolawan.

However, the spokesperson from the military denied there was mortar shelling in the area.

"Nag-retaliate lang ang tropa pero hindi nagpaputok ng mortar, hindi pwede kasi malapit lang ang kalaban," Petinglay said.

Last month, 52-year-old Abdulbasit Antao, a resident of Datu Salibo and a brother-in-law of Lagensay also died due to the same reason.

It has been more than a month since the military launched law enforcement operations against members of BIFF in Maguindanao. About 10,000 families have been displaced due to the ongoing operations.

http://news.abs-cbn.com/nation/regions/03/11/16/woman-dies-of-heart-attack-after-firefight-in-maguindanao