MANILA, Philippines - Vice Mayor Antonino de Jesus of Milagros town in Masbate was wounded in an ambush staged Tuesday afternoon by still unidentified assailants, a police official said.
Superintendent Reuben Sindac, director of the Masbate Police Office, said De Jesus had gunshot wounds on the back and hand and was rushed to Masbate Provincial Hospital.
One of the vice mayor's civilian escorts, Maya Areniado, was killed in the attack, which occurred 5 p.m. at Zigzag Road in Barangay Matiporon in Milagros.
Sindac said De Jesus and his escorts were on their way to Milagros from Barangay Dayao in Mandaon when ambushed.
The police immediately launched pursuit operations against the assailants who they believed to be have wounded when the convoy of De Jesus fired back at them. - GMANews.TV