Mayor Loot doubts ambush linked to inclusion in Duterte's 'narco-list'

Daanbantayan, Cebu Mayor Vicente Loot on Monday said he doubts the attack on him and his family the previous day was related to his inclusion in President Rodrigo Duterte's list of officials allegedly involved in illegal drugs.

In a report by GMA News' Jun Veneracion on 24 Oras, Loot said politics may be behind the ambush, which left his two drivers and a nanny wounded. He also said he has an idea on who may be behind the ambush.

"Mag-unahan na lang kami. Now I know I have an enemy," said Loot, a retired police official.

Loot and his family were about to dock at Daanbantayan port on board a boat after an outing in Malapascua island when fired upon by the suspects using long firearms.

Aside from the two drivers and the nanny, a porter was also wounded in the attack. They are now recuperating at a hospital in Cebu City.

Loot, who has repeatedly denied his involvement in the illegal drug trade, said he believes the attack will not be the first and last. "Ngayon alam ko mag-lie low ['yung suspek] pero babalik 'yan," he said.

Witnesses said two men fired at the victims while three served as backups. All were believed to be "vigilantes" who fled the scene on board a white van with plate number 5584.

Following the attack, police have assigned security at Loot's residence.

Loot, meanwhile, questioned why no policeman was deployed at the port at the time of the attack. He said the port must be secured at all time since tourists coming and going to Malapasua island use it.

Daanbantayan Police admitted that they were just consolidating their forces for deployment at their headquarters when the attack happened.

"I have to admit na talagang nahuli lang kami ng punta sa area," said Senior Inspector Irish Dilem, officer in charge of Daanbantayan Police.

The police said they would conduct a deeper investigation to verify if Loot was the real target of the attack. —KBK, GMA News