Wife of ex-VP Guingona wounded in 'ambush'

MANILA, Philippines – (UPDATE 5) Gingoog City Mayor Ruth De Lara Guingona sustained gunshot wounds, while her driver and bodyguard died in an ambush past 11 p.m. Saturday night in Barangay Binakalan, Gingoog, Misamis Oriental.

Guingona is the wife of former Vice-President Teofisto Guingona Jr. and the mother of Sen. Teofisto “TG” Guingona III.

The mayor and her party were on their way back to Gingoog City after attending a fiesta celebration and pageant at Brgy. Alagatan when their vehicles were stopped by armed men at Sitio Dumayokod.

The mayor’s convoy was showered with bullets from the back and side by the armed men. A firefight ensued between the armed men and Guingona’s six police escorts, which lasted for about 10 minutes.

Guingona and her party were shot several times, with the mayor sustaining wounds in her arms and feet.

Her driver, Bartolome Velasco, and his brother, Nelson Velasco, who also served as Guingona’s bodyguard, died in the incident.

NPA claims responsibility

The New People’s Army (NPA) claimed responsibility for the incident.

Jorge “Ka Oris” Madlos of the Communist Party of the Philippines-NPA-New Democratic Front in Central Mindanao confirmed that their members in Misamis Oriental were involved in the firefight.

While the NPA apologized for the incident, they also insisted that it was not an ambush; rather, they said they were defending their group that was conducting a checkpoint.

Madlos also claimed that it was Guingona’s escorts who fired first.

In a statement, Guingona’s son, Sen. TG Guingona, blasted the NPA for firing "upon an elderly and innocent woman who is already bowing out of politics."

“They alleged that they fired upon my mother because she breached a policy of bringing arms in their checkpoint. The persons that were carrying the arms are members of the PNP,” the senator said.

He said: "We would like to remind everyone in this country that there is only one government of the Republic of the Philippines. There is only one President who is in-charge in executing the laws of this land. That is President Noynoy Aquino. He is the Commander in Chief of the Armed Forces of the Philippines. And most importantly, he is the leader of this nation. No one else has the right to usurp the laws of this country."

Malacanang also condemned the incident.



"While it is easy now to give—to assume a motive, siguro po kami po hihintayin po muna natin ‘yon pong magiging laman ng imbestigasyon ng kapulisan," deputy presidential spokesperson Abigail Valte told government radio DZRB.



Stable condition

According to latest reports, Guingona is now in stable condition after she was airlifted from Gingoog to Cagayan de Oro around 9 a.m. this morning.

The senator said she is "stable, but in pain." He said she is not in a life-threatening situation.

Capitol University Medical City director Dr. Jesus Jardin said the mayor is also conscious.

Guingona fractured her right arm and calf, and is also wounded on her pelvis. She has shrapnel bits embedded in her arms, back and chest.

“My mom will undergo an operation [here]...the doctors say that the operations can be done even here in Cagayan de Oro. No need to bring her to Manila,” Sen. Guingona told ANC.

Two of her bodyguards were wounded: PO3 Roland Benemerito suffered minor injuries, while Leo Cañete is scheduled for an operation for a head wound.

Guingona is campaigning for her daughter, Marie Guingona, who is running to take her place as Mayor in Gingoog.

Misamis Oriental was placed on heightened alert after the incident.

Joint AFP and PNP forces are now conducting pursuit operations. -- Reports from Maricel Butardo and Primy Cane, ABS-CBN News Northern Mindanao, ANC and DZMM