Cops on manhunt for former Lanao del Sur mayor

ILIGAN CITY-Police had launched a manhunt against a former mayor of Calanogas town, Lanao del Sur province for wounding a relative during a shooting on Thursday.

Former Calanogas mayor Ibra Marohom Pagayawan fled after wounding his relative, identified as Arnais Bulkais Marohom, in Barangay BPS in Malabang, also in Lanao del Sur, said Senior Inspector Jemar delos Santos, spokesperson of the Autonomous Region in Muslim Mindanao (ARMM) police.

Delos Santos said Pagayawan and Marohom had a heated argument before the shooting.

“He (suspect) drew his pistol and shot the victim hitting the right leg and escaped after the incident. The victim was brought to the nearest hospital,” delos Santos said.

Army soldiers were helping in the manhunt against Pagayawan, he said.

Pagayawan’s and Marohom’s relatives immediately held a meeting to prevent the incident from becoming a rido or family feud, Chief Superintendent Graciano Mijares, the ARMM police chief, said.

Despite efforts by the two families to settle the incident peacefully, Mijares said the police were preparing, and were filing charges against Pagayawan.