Brother of former Ampatuan aide survives slay try

Inquirer Mindanao
First Posted 09:52:00 02/22/2010

Filed Under: Crime, Election Violence, Maguindanao Massacre

COTABATO CITY, Philippines— (UPDATE) A brother of a policeman-driver of Maguindanao massacre suspect Andal Ampatuan Jr. was shot outside his residence in Datu Piang, Maguindanao, on Sunday night, police and the victims relatives said Monday.

Esmael Ebus, 45, survived the attack by a lone assailant, sustaining three superficial gunshot wounds.

The victim, municipal engineer of Ampatuan town, is the older brother of Police Officer 1 Ranier Ebus, who executed an affidavit pointing to his former boss as the one who led local militiamen in the grisly November 23 massacre of 57 people.

Ebus was sitting in front of his home in Poblacion Datu Piang when the gunman arrived and without provocation fired at him, said Senior Superintendent Alex Lineses, acting Maguindanao police director.

“He sustained injuries in his abdomen,” Lineses said.

Ebus’s wife said doctors had declared him out of danger at a local hospital.

Lineses said police could still not say if the attack had anything to do with Ebus’s brother turning state witness.

The attack happened during a power outage in the town at around 7 p.m.