By Noel Y. Punzalan and Edwin O. Fernandez
COTABATO CITY, March 7 (PNA) –- The chairman of the Moro National Liberation Front (MNLF) and former Cotabato City vice mayor was hurt while his aide-relative died in a vehicular accident in Maguindanao Friday noon, reports said.
Church-run Radio DXMS Radyo Bida said Muslimin Sema was with several other companions when the accident happened and that they were all rushed to the Notre Dame Hospital in Cotabato City. A certain Datu Von, Sema’s aide, however, died in the accident.
Another aide of Sema said the former vice mayor was in stable condition and conscious when he was airlifted to Davao City for further treatment.
“He was very much alive and conscious,” the aide said.
Radio reports said Sema and his companions were on board a Toyota Grandia heading to Cotabato City from Gen. Santos City when the accident happened in Datu Anggal town in Maguindanao.
Their vehicle, which was leading a convoy, then swerved to avoid an on-coming 10-wheeler truck.
As the lead car skidded to stop, another car carrying Sema’s escorts accidentally bumped it, causing it to swerve and turn turtle.
Sema sustained injuries in the head but those were external. “The family wanted to ensure the injuries are treated quickly using modern medical facilities,” the aide said.
Two years ago, Sema, then the vice mayor of Cotabato City, was ambushed by two gunmen while heading home from the city legislative office. He was hit by bullets and glass fragments in the lower jaw. (PNA)