Vice Mayor in Maguindanao survives alleged assassination attempt

COTABATO CITY, Philippines—A town vice mayor in Maguindanao survived an alleged assassination attempt while he was heading for home with his Marine soldiers escort on Sunday night, police here said.

Reports received by Chief Supt. Noel Delos Reyes, regional director for the Autonomous Region in Muslim Mindanao (ARMM) where Maguindanao is a component province, said Vice Mayor Remegio Sioson of South Upi, Maguindanao, was heading for home after attending a party in Cotabato City when unidentified armed men reportedly fired on his vehicle in Barangay Kibucay, South Upi town.

Reports said Sioson was with his Marine security escorts, headed by 1Lt. Clifford Pacatang of the Second Marine Company of the 8th Marine Battalion Landing Team (MBLT-8) when the alleged ambush occurred at past 6 pm.

Sioson’s driver, identified as Mario Erese, 45, was hurt in the attack.

Sioson told police investigators he has no known enemy and believed the suspected ambush was a case of mistaken identity.

Police and Philippine Marines are still investigating the incident which came while Maguindanao participates in the week long celebration of Church-led Mindanao Week of Peace.