Candidate for Maguindanao town councilor hurt in ambush

COTABATO CITY – A candidate for town councilor of Maguindanao was hurt in an ambush by still unidentified gunmen in Sultan Kudarat town on Wednesday afternoon, police said.

A woman candidate for vice mayor of Maguindanao who was in the same vehicle, and three others, escaped unhurt.

Chief Supt. Graciano Mijares, police director for the Autonomous Region in Muslim Mindanao (PNP-ARMM), identified the injured local aspirant as Khadafy Karudin Pendi who was hit in his leg.

Pendi is running for councilor of Parang town, where Amelia Abo, the No. 1 councilor, is running for vice mayor.

The victims were all on board a Honda Jazz car (AOA 3243) driven by Kim Basag heading toward Cotabato City from Parang when ambushed by still unidentified gunmen along the national highway in Sultan Kudarat at 4:30 p.m.

Also in the vehicle were Hammy Makapeges Manabilang, also a candidate for town councilor, and Bai Shahara Salasal.