Sara Duterte calls for deeper probe into Shariff Aguak mayor ambush

Vice President Sara Duterte said authorities should investigate further the ambush targeting Shariff Aguak Mayor Adatu Akmad Mitra Ampatuan Sr., particularly the use of rocket-propelled grenades (RPGs) in the attack. 

In an interview in The Hague, Netherlands on January 26, Duterte said she strongly condemns the ambush, especially that she herself hails from Mindanao. 

“‘Yung mga ganito na mga pangyayari, nagpapakita ng degradation ng peace and order… Napapansin ko sa mga awtoridad parang life goes on—normal lang na meron kang nakikitang RPG sa gitna ng daan in broad daylight,” she said. 

(These incidents show the degradation of peace and order... I notice that for the authorities, it seems like life just goes on—it's as if it’s normal that you see an RPG in the middle of the road in broad daylight.) 

“Hindi ‘yan normal at hindi ‘yan dapat pinapalampas. Dapat merong malalim na imbestigasyon. Kahit pa man sabihin natin na namatay ‘yung mga nag-ambush, dapat merong malalim na imbestigasyon. Paano nangyari ito at paano nagkakaroon ng RPG ang mga, siguro sabihin na natin, sibilyan? Kasi hindi naman talaga ‘yun mga uniformed personnel,” she added. 

(That's not normal and it shouldn't be overlooked. There should be a deep investigation into this. Even if we say that the suspects died, there should be a deep investigation. How did this happen and how did the supposed civilians get the RPGs? Because those people aren't uniformed personnel.) 

On Sunday morning, armed men ambushed the convoy of Ampatuan when he was on his way home. Though the mayor was unharmed, two of his security escorts were wounded in the firefight. 

All four suspects were killed in a hot pursuit operation after the ambush, the police said. 

Authorities confirmed that rocket-propelled grenades  were used in the attack. 

The Philippine National Police (PNP) on Tuesday said it is looking at local political tensions and supposed revenge as possible motives behind the ambush. A special investigation task group (SITG) has also been created to focus on the case. — RSJ, GMA Integrated News