Attack on CPLA head linked to clan war

LA TRINIDAD, Benguet -– Police Regional director Benjamin Magalong is pointing to ‘clan war’ as the root of an ambush against Cordillera People's Liberation Army (CPLA) Kalinga ground commander Tirso Iwangga.

Magalong said the incident was not CPLA faction related. “It is leaning towards a clan war they have,” he said.

The regional director said there are no suspects as of the moment as police are in the thick of gathering evidence on the July 9 gun battle at Bolanao, Kalinga.

Kalinga police recounts the incident when they responded at 9:20 p.m. July 9, after a burst of successive gun fire emanated from the direction of the old slaughterhouse compound in Purok 5, Bulanao.

Police reports show that Iwangga went out of their house to urinate but was surprised when he was shot several times by unidentified suspects.

Suspects were reported to have positioned themselves at the concrete fence of the Department of Agriculture, 15 meters away. All shots missed Iwangga.

Iwangga return fire with the help of his relatives, but the unidentified suspects were able to runaway through the cover of darkness.

Magalong said there has been no request for security on the side of Iwangga.

This is the second recorded assassination attempt on Iwangga.

Kalinga police are now on follow-up investigation gathering evidence on the incident.