MANILA, July 19 -– Seven members of the Presidential Security Group (PSG) were wounded in an ambush by suspected New People’s Army (NPA) rebels in Arakan, North Cotabato on Wednesday.
PSG Spokesperson Col. Mike Aquino said the incident occurred at 6:15 a.m. when the PSG convoy consisting of two vehicles passed through a fake military checkpoint at Barangay Gambudes along the Davao-Arakan route.
The PSG personnel were on their way to Cagayan De Oro City from Camp Panacan in Davao City.
“More than 50 armed men wearing military uniform were in the checkpoint in the area bearing the ‘Task Force Davao’ sign. They posed as soldiers,” Aquino said in Filipino.
The PSG spokesperson said security personnel, doubting the identities of the men who were wearing military uniform, stopped before reaching the checkpoint. This was then followed by an exchange of fires.
The wounded PSG personnel were immediately brought to the nearest hospital.
The military has launched a pursuit operation to hunt the gunmen responsible for the ambush. (Priam F. Nepomuceno/PNA)
