Wife of ambushed Lanao del Sur town mayor dies in hospital

CAGAYAN DE ORO CITY –– The wife of Lumbaca-Unayan, Lanao del Sur Mayor Somerado Guro, died in a hospital here, more than an hour after she was admitted for treatment following an ambush Wednesday morning, relatives said.

Guro, his wife Rohaifa, nephew Abdul Rafi, and driver Ibrahim Gani were aboard a black pickup truck going to Lanao del Sur from Barangay Iponan here when unidentified gunmen abroad a motorcycle fired at them at 9:40 a.m.

They had just left his house in Bloomingdale Subdivision when the ambush took place.

Abdul Rafi was unhurt in the ambush, but the three others suffered bullet injuries.

After the shooting, Gani was able to drive the vehicle to a hospital, where they sought medical attention, said Major Ivan Vinas, spokesperson of the Cagayan de Oro Police Office.

But after more than an hour, Rohaifa, 26, died while being treated in the hospital, said Lanao del Sur Provincial Fiscal Aisa Alonto.

Alonto said Rohaifa suffered seven gunshot wounds.

Alonto added that Mayor Guro was hit by a bullet on his neck and is in stable condition.

Bangsamoro Member of Parliament Zia Alonto Adiong, a distant relative, said “rido” or clan feud could have been the motive behind the shooting.

“Who will think of staging an ambush in this time of pandemic?” Adiong asked.

City Police director Co. Henry Dampal asked witnesses to come forward and help to identify the suspects.

LZB