Vice mayor Sema fully recovers from ambush wounds; supporters throw party

COTABATO CITY, Philippines—Supporters and political allies of Vice Mayor Muslimin Sema on Saturday held a grand “kanduli” party to thank the Almighty that he survived an ambush on January 10 and has fully recovered. Kanduli is a tradition Muslims practice to thank God for the blessings and celebrate the success of an individual, a family or a community.

The supporters, mostly relatives and friends of members of the Moro National Liberation Front, also offered prayers for the speedy resolution of the charges filed against the suspects.

Also present were political leaders of Maguindanao and Cotabato City.

On January10, Sema was heading for home when two men riding in tandem on a motorbike opened fire on his vehicle.

Sema, who also chairs a faction of the MNLF, was hit by a bullet in the right side of his face.  The bullet also damaged his lower jaw.

“I have fully recovered now. I can play tennis now. I can jog,” he told reporters.

His wife, Representative Bai Sandra Sema of Maguindanao’s first district and Cotabato City, said the family was appreciative of the concerns expressed by political allies, family friends and associates.

The alleged gunman, Zermin Abdullah, was shot and critically wounded by the vice mayor’s escorts. He later died in the hospital.

Representative Sema lauded the Department of Justice for promptly acting on the case.

The police’s Criminal Investigation and Detection Group, which claimed the ambush was politically motivated, has filed frustrated murder against Cotabato City Mayor Japal Guiani Jr; his sister Cynthia Guiani Sayadi; her husband, Omar; Cotabato City Councilors Nasser Dumama and Abdila Lim; village chair Amil Sula; and Police Inspector Noel Gutierrez.

Mayor Guiani denied involvement in the ambush. He said he had a lot of things to attend to in the city government than hatch a plot to kill the vice mayor.