PNP eyeing armed group

Slay try on Maguindanao vice mayor:

MANILA, Philippines — The Philippine National Police (PNP) is eyeing an armed group behind an attempt to assassinate Vice Mayor Mohammad Omar Samama of Datu Piang in Maguindanao del Sur.

Col. Randulf Tuano, PNP public information officer, yesterday said the armed group is reportedly among lawless elements operating in the Bangsamoro Autonomous Region in Muslim Mindanao (BARMM).

Tuano said Brig. Gen. Romeo Macapaz, BARMM police director, informed him that investigators are focusing their probe on the armed group, which he did not identify.

Samama was delivering a speech in an evacuation center in Barangay Magaslong when he was shot at past 10 a.m. on Monday. He is currently recuperating in a hospital.

Tuano said the gunman could be a sniper as investigation showed the perpetrator was not among the crowd.

He said the regional joint peace and security coordinating center would determine if the incident is election-related.

The Commission on Elections said the attack is poll-related as Samama is running for reelection.

Go condemns attack

Meanwhile, Sen. Bong Go condemned the attack on Samama, which occurred in the middle of the election period.

In a speech delivered during a gathering of the Vice Mayors’ League of the Philippines in Manila on Monday, Go urged attendees to advocate for clean, fair and peaceful elections.

“I am appealing to authorities to conduct a thorough investigation and solve the case quickly,” he said.

Go said justice must be immediately served to victims and families of election-related violence.