Cotabato City vice mayor wounded in attack

MANILA, Philippines—The vice mayor of Cotabato City who was wounded when his convoy was ambushed by motorcycle-riding gunmen Tuesday morning was now in stable condition, police said.

Vice Mayor Muslimin Sema was rushed to Notre Dame Hospital after he was injured in the attack that occurred at around 11:20 a.m. along Gonzalo Javier Street at Rosary Heights 7 in Cotabato City, said Senior Superintendent Danny Reyes, director of the Cotabato City police.

He said that Sema was on his way home from a city council meeting on board  his black Montero when he was attacked.

Sema sustained a gunshot wound to his right cheek.

One of the suspects, Zermin Abdullah, 48, was caught, said Superintendent Resty Damaso, spokesperson of the Region 12 police.

Abdullah, who was shot by one of the city official’s security aides, was brought to the Cotabato Regional and Medical Center.

Authorities recovered the baby armalite rifle used by the suspects in the attack.