1 hurt in ambush on Maguindanao town bets

MAGUINDANAO, Philippines — A candidate for a local post in Maguindanao was wounded when a car he was riding in with two other bets was ambushed in Sultan Kudarat town Wednesday.

Chief Superintendent Graciano Mijares of the Police Regional Office-Autonomous Region in Muslim Mindanao identified the victim as Khadafy Karudin Pendi, candidate for municipal councilor in Parang, Maguindanao.

Pendi and two partymates, Amelia Abo and Hammy Macapeges Manabilang, were riding together to Cotabato City when gunmen on board another vehicle opened fire.

Abo, a member of the Sangguniang Bayan in Parang is running for vice mayor.

Manabilang is a candidate for municipal councilor under the ticket of Abo and her running mate, Mimbalawag Mangutara, Jr., former regional budget officer of ARMM.

Mijares said Pendi, who was wounded in the leg, was immediately rushed to a hospital by responding policemen.

Police probers said Pendi and companions were on their way to Cotabato City from Parang when their attackers shot their vehicle while maneuvering through a busy stretch of the highway in the Marhaban area in Sultan Kudarat.

The suspects managed to escape before responding police personnel and barangay tanods could reach the ambush scene.