CAGAYAN DE ORO CITY (Mindanao Examiner / July 2, 2014) – Suspected communist rebels opened fire on a convoy carrying a town mayor and killing him in a daring assault in the southern Philippine province of Bukidnon, officials said.
Officials said Mayor Mario Okinlay, of Impasug-ong town, was inspecting a medical mission in the town when gunmen attacked his convoy near the village of Bontongon. He was rushed to hospital in Malaybalay City, but died along the way.
The motive of the attack was unknown, but the military was quick to blame the New People’s Army as behind the assault. Police have launched an investigation into the ambush, but no officials would say that the attack was connected to politics or not.
No other details were made available either by the military or the police about the attack.
There was no immediate statement from the NPA – which has been fighting for a separate communist state – on the military’s allegation about its involvement in the ambush. (J. Magtanggol)
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