PNP sees armed group behind shooting of Maguindanao del Sur vice mayor

An armed group may be involved in the shooting of Datu Piang, Maguindanao del Sur Vice Mayor Datu Omar Samama, according to the Philippine National Police (PNP) on Wednesday.

PNP public information office acting chief Police Colonel Randulf Tuaño said he discussed the case with Police Regional Office-Bangsamoro Autonomous Region (PRO BAR) chief Police Brigadier General Romeo Macapaz.

“Sa ngayon po, ang tinitignan po nila ay 'yung mga armed group. Ito po ay ayon kay [Regional Director] Macapaz. Sinasabi niya po ang suspek natin po sa ngayon ay isang armed group,” Tuaño said in a press briefing.

(Right now, they are looking at the armed groups. This is according to Regional Director Macapaz. He said our suspect as of now is an armed group.)

Authorities are still conducting validation if the motive for the attack was political.

According to Tuaño, the shooter of the vice mayor was outside the crowd and had an obstructed view. Due to this, the police suspected that the gunman was a sniper.

“Ito po ay nasa labas ng crowd area, meaning covered po 'yung area na posible po na isang sniper ang namaril. Kaya sinasabi niya since covered po 'yung area, kaya walang malinaw na clear shot po 'yung suspek,” he said.

(This is outside the crowd, meaning the area is covered and it is possible that a sniper did the shooting. That's why he said that since the area is covered, the suspect had no clear shot.)

On Monday, Samama was wounded when a suspected sniper shot him while he was giving a speech at a program in Barangay Magaslong around 10 a.m.

According to Tuaño, the vice mayor is now in good condition and recuperating in a hospital after sustaining a gunshot wound on his abdomen.

The vice mayor is seeking reelection in the May 2025 elections.

Commission on Elections (Comelec) chairman George Garcia earlier condemned the incident.

"We are so saddened and we accept this as an open challenge to us and other law enforcement authorities. Violence has no place in a civilized society," Garcia said.

Samama is a former personnel of Comelec.—AOL, GMA Integrated News

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