Maguindanao town politician unhurt in ambush; aide killed, another hurt

One of the escorts of Data Salibo, Maguindanao politician Sam Zailon Esmael, was slain during a noontime ambush on Wednesday. CONTRIBUTED PHOTOS

DATU SAUDI AMPATUAN, Maguindanao––An unarmed escort of a local politician in Datu Salibo town, Maguindanao was killed, while another was injured in an ambush at the national highway in this town past noon on Wednesday, Sept. 29.

Col. Jibin Bongcayao, Maguindanao police director, said Sam Zailon Esmael, who is reportedly eyeing the vice mayoral post of Datu Salibo town, was sitting in the front passenger seat of a silver Toyota pick-up vehicle and escaped unhurt.

However, his escorts seated at the back of the vehicle were hit. One of them died on the spot.

Initial investigation by the municipal police said Esmael’s vehicle was cruising the national highway in Elian village when one of the two suspects on board a motorcycle opened fire as they reached the Crossing Salbo-Dapiawan point.

Esmael ran for Datu Salibo mayor in 2019 but lost. He has filed an election protest which remains unresolved to this day.

He is expected to vie for the vice mayoral post in 2022.

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