Cops probe political tension in Maguindanao mayor ambush
Police are investigating whether the attack on Shariff Aguak, Maguindanao del Sur Mayor Akmad Mitra Ampatuan was a retaliation, the Philippine National Police said on Tuesday.
“The first angle we’re looking at here is the local tension related to local politics that resulted in a hired gun,” PNP public information chief Brig. Gen. Randulf Tuaño said in a television interview.
He added: “A possible angle surfaced wherein police are looking into retaliation, although this has yet to be confirmed, in which the group of deceased suspects have the same surname as the victims of a killing spree.”
According to Tuaño, this was the fourth attack against Ampatuan. The first was a roadside motor explosion in 2010, followed by an ambush in 2014, then another attack in 2019.
Grenade rocket
The latest attack took place along the road of Barangay Poblacion in Shariff Aguak around 6 a.m. on Sunday, when one of four suspects alighted a light vehicle and fired what appeared to be a rocket-propelled grenade at Ampatuan’s vehicle.
Two of the mayor’s security personnel were injured, while three of the suspects were killed and one remained at large, the PNP noted.
Tuaño previously identified the leader of the group as a man named Raprap; and his accomplices were his uncle, his cousin and his sibling, the latter of whom was their driver who managed to escape.
“The director of the Police Regional Office Bangsamoro’s instructions also include a security assessment,” the PNP public information chief noted.
In line with this, Tuaño said, he will recommend for the administrative relief of the town’s chief of police to see if there were any possible security lapses.
He assured that the PNP was coordinating with the Armed Forces of the Philippines to ensure security in the area.
Task force
On Monday, the PNP said it formed a special investigation task group composed of the Police Regional Office Bangsamoro Autonomous Region, the Directorate for Investigation and Detective Management, and the Criminal Investigation and Detection Group to lead the investigation.
Tuaño had told reporters that they were also looking at the possible hiring of the gunman with his relatives. The supposed leader named Raprap allegedly fired a rocket-propelled grenade at the mayor’s convoy.
Raprap reportedly had prior warrants for murder, robbery, and violating a Commission on Elections gun ban. Authorities are also reviewing potential security lapses by local police.
Maguindanao del Sur Gov. Ali Midtimbang condemned the attack, calling it “deeply alarming” and highlighting the danger to civilians.
Maj. Gen. Vladimir Cagara of the Army’s 6th Infantry Division praised the “swift, decisive and coordinated response” of soldiers and police, saying strategic checkpoints prevented further harm.
Ampatuan said he has no known enemies and is unsure who is behind the attacks.
President Marcos also denounced the attempt on Ampatuan’s life, ordering the Department of the Interior and Local Government and the PNP to maintain peace ahead of the upcoming Bangsamoro parliament election.
