ARMM gov’s aide slain in ambush

MAGUINDANAO – An aide of Autonomous Region in Muslim Mindanao (ARMM) Gov. Mujiv Hataman was killed while two others were wounded in an ambush in Datu Odin Sinsuat town here on Saturday.

Betsy Yap was declared dead on arrival at a hospital in nearby Cotabato City, where her mother Beatrize and their companions – Reymundo Kinlat, Jonathan Layson and Crispin Beling – were also taken for treatment.

The victims were in a car headed for Cotabato City when the assailants opened fire at them in Barangay Tenorio.

Yap died from a gunshot to the head. She worked for the ARMM’s humanitarian emergency assistance and response team of the office of the governor.

Yap’s mother and Kinlat are incumbent councilors of South Upi town, located in the second district of Maguindanao.

Beatrize yesterday expressed belief she was the target of the assailants, although she said she had no known enemies.

She said the assailants must have thought that it was her who was seated on the front seat.

Beatrize said she and her daughter switched seats.

Hataman condemned the killing and urged the regional police to conduct a deeper probe of the incident.

The ambush occured near Camp Siongco, the command center of the Army’s 6th Infantry Division.