North Cotabato mayor survives assassination try

LIBUNGAN, NORTH COTABATO – The mayor of this town, Christopher Cuan, survived an assassin’s bullet in a daring attack inside the town hall on Monday afternoon.

Cuan, also known as “Mayor Amping,” was in President Rodrigo Duterte’s drug watch list and subjected to police search operation two years ago. But police did not find illegal drugs from the mayor.

Around 1:20 p.m. Monday, a lone gunman entered the one-story town hall and attacked Cuan but the suspect instead wounded a utility worker, according to witnesses.

Libungan town police chief Sr. Insp. Onofre Julian identified the utility worker as Alejandro Catulong, 57, a resident of Barnagay Kabpangi. Catulong was hit in the chest.

A commotion ensued after the shooting, and the suspect managed to get away aboard a van parked in front of the town hall. Authorities immediately launched a manhunt.

North Cotabato Board Member Rolly Sacdalan said his friend “Mayor Cuan survived, with no injuries, an assassination attempt when a gunman, using a rifle shot but missed the mayor.”

“Stay safe and let’s be vigilant,” Sacdalan said in his FB posts. /kga