Politics behind murder of Maimbung town mayor, wife says

ZAMBOANGA CITY – The family of former Maimbung Mayor Najib Maldisa claimed he was killed due to politics, the police said Wednesday.

Senior Supt. Edwin de Ocampo, acting city police chief, said Maldisa’s wife, Ahiba, told police investigators that Monday’s ambush was politically-motivated.

But de Ocampo said Ahiba refused to elaborate on the family’s suspicion just yet.

Maldisa was with Ahiba when four armed men on motorcycles, fired on their vehicle near the public cemetery in San Roque village here Monday morning.

He died from bullet wounds, while Ahiba survived with a bullet wound on her shoulder.

“She was willing to cooperate with us in the investigation,” de Ocampo said.

De Ocampo said the police had taken into account the family’s suspicion that the ambush was politically-motivated.

Maldisa was one of the primary suspects in the August 5, 2010 explosion outside the arrival area of the Zamboanga City International Airport here.

Two persons were killed in the incident, including the suspected bomb courier, while several others were wounded along with Sulu Governor Abdusakur Tan.

Alfredo Jimenez Jr., Maldisa’s lawyer in the bombing case, said the former executive had wanted to meet him on June 29 to discuss the case.

“He called my office for an appointment on Wednesday,” he said.

Jimenez said Maldisa wanted to discuss with him Tan’s appeal against the suspects in the airport bombing.

The Department of Justice (DOJ) had dismissed the case against Maldisa, and six other suspects due to lack of evidence.

Tan had appealed the ruling and wanted the case reinstated.

De Ocampo meanwhile said the police were speeding up its efforts to identify the four Maldisa assassins as they might be able to shed light on the motive.

“There might be some witnesses but unfortunately no one would like to talk,” he said.