— The family of the suspects surrendered to authorities the improvised rocket-propelled grenade (RPG) used in the ambush of Shariff Aguak Mayor Akmad Ampatuan. According to Bangsamoro police director Brig. Gen. Jaysen De Guzman, the family does not want to be implicated in the incident.
During a press briefing of the Special Investigation Task Group Mitra, De Guzman explained that the RPG will be forwarded to the forensic group for examination. “You can see what it looks like—there are pipes wrapped and there are locks,” he added, indicating the improvised nature of the device.
The 6th Infantry Division of the Philippine Army has confirmed that the three men found dead inside a mini van are suspects in the ambush. According to Maguindanao del Sur Provincial Police Director Col. Salman Sapal, the two other suspects are still being sought and will be charged with frustrated and attempted murder.
The mini van used has no record with the Land Transportation Office (LTO), according to the Highway Patrol Group (HPG) Maguindanao del Sur. According to Maj. Jemu Remolete, the plate number is registered to double cab dropside 2000 model, white, registered to Misamis Oriental, Cagayan de Oro. Investigations are ongoing to determine the real owner and whether any plate switching occurred.
“The vehicle is right-hand drive and is being converted to left-hand before being registered here with the LTO,” De Guzman explained. He said many such imported vehicles are being brought into the country and sold locally, which shows the depth of the police investigation into security and law enforcement in Shariff Aguak and the entire Maguindanao del Sur.
