NARTATEZ (Maguindanao del Sur PPO FB)
COTABATO CITY – Police Brig. Gen. Jaysen de Guzman, Police Regional Office-Bangsamoro Autonomous Region chief, has relieved Police Col. Salman Sapal, Maguindanao del Sur police director, over the deaths of five police officers in an ambush recently in Barangay Mother Poblacion, Shariff Aguak, Maguindanao del Sur.
Sapal was replaced by Police Col. John Michael Mangasin, chief of the Regional Operations and Plans Division of PRO-BAR.
Killed were Police Patrolmen Kenneth Perocho, Al-Fatah Marohom, Amil Bangsa, Arsenal Sivih, and Sayed Ridwan.
Three lawmen were wounded – Police Lt. Alfred Gregory, Police Staff Sgt. Adam Kamarudin Kansi, and Police Patrolman Abubakar Lauban.
Gunmen seized their service firearms.
Sapal was relieved for committing administrative lapses over the incident on March 28 near the Maguindanao del Sur Police Provincial Office headquarters.
A roadside bomb exploded in Barangay Sapakan, Rajah Buayan, Maguindanao del Sur after Mangasin assumed the position on April 1.
National police chief Police Gen. Jose Melencio Nartatez met officers of PRO-BAR, Western Mindanao Command, and 6th Infantry Division on April 2 at the Maguindanao del Sur Provincial Police Office headquarters to strengthen their collaboration in ensuring security and stability in the province.