Troops hunt mayor’s ambushers

From the Mindanao Examiner (Jan 9, 2021): Troops hunt mayor’s ambushers

SECURITY FORCES continue to hunt down the ambushers of Mayor Reynalbert Insular of South Upi town whose convoy was attacked in the restive province of Maguindanao.

Insular survived the recent attack, but it killed a 22-year old man, Thelmo Sase, and wounded four other civilians - John Andrew Tumbaga, 30; Ernesto Bebang, 50; Christian King Sase, 22; and Leonard Betita, 23.

Major General Juvymax Uy, commander of the 6th Infantry Division, blamed the pro-ISIS group called Bangsamoro Islamic Freedom Fighters (BIFF) for the ambush and ordered a massive operation against the attackers.

Insular came from the village of Itaw where he distributed food aid to civilians harassed and displaced by the BIFF. His group was returning home when an improvised bomb exploded and followed by automatic gunfire. Troops responding from the attack rescued the mayor and members of his group. (Rhoderick Beñez)

http://mindanaoexaminernewspaper.blogspot.com/2021/01/troops-hunt-mayors-ambushers.html