Islamic City of Marawi (30 November) – Lanao del Sur Police authorities are conducting hot pursuit operations against the suspect of a shooting incident in Marantao town which resulted in the death of a World Food Programme (WFP) truck driver’s assistant.
Provincial Police Director Superintendent Cosanie M. Derogongan identified the 25-year old victim as Sadam Basnillo, a resident of Cagayan de Oro City.
He said the victim’s father, Gerome Basnillo, was driving a WFP contracted green cargo truck bearing plate number MVM-160 when they were fired upon by a certain ‘Pakpak’ along Narciso Ramos Highway Barangay Tuca Ilian, Maul of the said town.
He said based on their initial investigation, the truck was loading 480 sacks of rice of which about 50 sacks were delivered in Madamba town and the rest were to be unloaded in Marantao.
The initial investigation further disclosed that prior to the shooting, the suspect asked for a sack of rice but he was refused.
The victim, Derogongan said, suffered one gunshot wound in his left waist and penetrated to his right waist that caused his death.
In a press statement, WFP Country Director Stephen Anderson meanwhile expressed condemnation on the shooting the incident.
WFP strongly deplores this act of wanton violence that has led to the tragic and senseless loss of life of an individual who was assisting in the delivery of humanitarian assistance, he said.
WFP is currently working with all concerned government authorities who are investigating this incident and will share more information as it becomes available, he further said.
WFP staff are also in touch with the family of the bereaved and are extending the necessary support in their time of grief, Anderson added.
The WFP country director further clarified that in addition to adhering to the UN’s standards of security in the implementation of its programmes, the WFP coordinates routinely with the Department of Social Welfare and Development, concerned local government units, the Armed Forces of the Philippines and other stakeholders in order to continuously ensure the safety and security of all staff, including contracted staff, in its areas of operation.
However, Derogongan stressed that they have not received any request for security assistance from WFP.
I have checked our records to verify their claim of coordination or any request of police security assistance but found nothing, Derogongan emphasized.
As of presstime and based on the evidence on the ground, Anderson said they are treating the incident as an isolated case and they will do everything possible to ensure that operations in Central Mindanao will not be hampered.
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