Maguindanao, Philippines— A registered nurse, a humanitarian worker of Autonomous Region in Muslim Mindanao, was killed while others were injured in an ambush in Barangay Tenorio, Datu Odin Sinsuat, Saturday afternoon.
The fatality was identified as Betsy Yap, staff of ARMM Humanitarian Emergency Action Response Team (HEART) of Governor Mujiv Hataman, was declared dead on arrival at the Notre Dame Hospital in Cotabato City, according to Army Capt. Arvin John Encinas, spokesperson of the Army’s 6th Infantry Division.
Police authorities of Datu Odin Sinsuat, identified the injured as Crispin Beling, driver and Jonathan Layson, security escort of councilors Beatrice Beling Yap and Reymundo Quinlat, of South Upi, Maguindanao.
The two councilors escaped the incident unharmed.
Police said the victims were on board a Mitsubishi sedan with licensed plate number LCJ-624, on their way to Cotabato City, when a lone gunman opened fire at about 4:10 p.m. along the highway in Barangay Tenorio, Datu Odin Sinsuat, Maguindanao. The ambush site is a residential area and is about 500 meter away from the military’s 6th Infantry Division.
The victims vehicle was riddled with bullets from cal. 45 pistol based on empty shells recovered.
The lone gunman fled aboard a motorbike toward unknown direction.
Hataman condemned the murder of Yap , saying she was a dedicated humanitarian worker and have vast experience as relief worker during the Marawi Siege.
“Killings have no place in a functioning democracy. As the people prepare to exercise their democratic rights in the upcoming barangay elections, acts of violence committed against public servants carry a chilling effect that go against the very grain of what democratic institutions stand for,” Hataman said in a statement he issued hours after learning one of his staff was killed in an ambush.
“I condemn this act of senseless violence, and we call on local government and law enforcement units to exert all efforts in ensuring that the killer will be brought to justice,” he added.
Police authorities are still investigating the motive behind the killing, as the perpetrator of the crime is stil unidentified.-Edwin O. Fernandez
