Kidapawan City, June 11 - North Cotabato Vice Governor Manny Piñol lamented the death of provincial security guard Jake Rosales who lost his life defending the provincial jail against Moro Islamic Liberation Front attackers early dawn today.

Rosales was hit in the head by a sniper’s bullet as he and other jail guards, augmented by elements of the Provincial Police Mobile Group, were fending off the armed assault of some 50 armed MILF rebels who were trying to free a high profile prisoner allied with their group.

“Jake Rosales was a victim of a childish reaction to a petty political squabble,” Vice Gov. Piñol told officials and employees of the provincial government, including Provincial Administrator Jerry Pieldad, who gathered for a monthly convocation at the Cotabato provincial gymnasium this morning.

“Had he not been recalled from the Office of the Vice Governor and detailed to the provincial jail, Jake Rosales would probably still be alive today,” Vice Gov. Piñol said.     

Rosales, a retired soldier from the Philippine Army and a former member of the explosives and ordnance division (EOD), has served as a security escort for Vice Gov. Piñol since 1998.

Rosales, along with three other provincial security guards assigned with Vice Gov. Piñol, was however recalled and given guard duties at the provincial jail after the Sangguniang Panlalawigan voted down a resolution granting authority to Gov. Jesus N. Sacdalan to enter into a P100 million loan for the purchase of additional heavy equipment.