Former Camarines Sur 1st District representative Rolando Andaya survived an ambush by unidentified assailants in Pili, Camarines Sur on Tuesday, June 1, police said.

It was the second ambush on Andaya in nearly three years.

Andaya was unharmed after two motorcycle-riding assailants rained bullets on his vehicle in Barangay Palestina around 5:45 am on Tuesday, according to the Philippine National Police (PNP) in Bicol. 

Based on the initial investigation of the PNP Bicol, Andaya was driving his vehicle along Maharlika Highway when the ambush occurred. Police recovered two empty cartridges of a caliber .45 pistol. 

The Bicol police also formed a special investigation team, which is probing the incident. Bicol police chief Brigadier General Jonnel Estomo said he already ordered additional deployments of police in the area. 

Andaya served as the representative of the 1st District of Camarines Sur during the 11th, 12th, 13th, 16th, 17th, and 18th Congress. In 2006, he was appointed as the secretary of the Department of Budget and Management under the Arroyo administration.

He lost his wife, former representative Marissa Andaya, to cancer in 2020.

Recently, Andaya posted on his Facebook page a manifesto that pledged support for Vice President Leni Robredo if the latter decides to run for Camarines Sur’s gubernatorial post and challenge the reigning Villafuertes.

In the May 2019 elections, Andaya ran for Camarines Sur’s gubernatorial post but lost to Migz Villafuerte by more than 5,000 votes. Months before this, in October 2018, Andaya escaped an ambush just after he filed his candidacy for governor. – Rappler.com