In a daring daylight attack, two suspects on a motorcycle ambushed an engineer and his driver in Isulan, Sultan Kudarat, on Monday. The victims, Amaroden Esmael, a 38-year-old engineer from Ampatuan, Maguindanao del Sur, and his 30-year-old driver, Amelon Asmodin from Koronadal City, were targeted around 10:30 a.m. on the national highway in Barangay Kalawag 2. The assailants opened fire as the victims were traveling in a black pickup truck en route to the provincial capitol in Buluan, Maguindanao del Sur.
Lt. Col. Julius Malcontento, the Isulan municipal police chief, reported that the police have identified persons of interest in connection with the attack. The police are actively seeking security footage from the area to aid their investigation. Malcontento urged the public to come forward with any information about the motive or the perpetrators to help bring them to justice.
Esmael suffered minor injuries and is currently in stable condition. Asmodin, however, sustained a serious gunshot wound to the head and remains in critical condition. Despite his injury, Asmodin managed to drive the vehicle to the provincial hospital, approximately 800 meters from the ambush site.
At the scene, investigators found at least six empty shells from a .45-caliber pistol, indicating the intensity of the attack. The police are intensifying their efforts to apprehend the suspects and prevent further violence in the region.