Maguindanao mayor’s house attacked by armed men for 3rd time

SHARIFF AGUAK, Maguindanao - The compound of suspended Shariff Aguak Mayor Bai Zahara Ampatuan was hit by rapid gunfire and two grenade blasts Friday night, the town's officer-in-charge said. 

Officer-in-Charge Vice Mayor Bai Anhara Ampatuan, daughter of Mayor Bai Zahara Ampatuan, said gunfire erupted at around 9 p.m. on Friday in the middle of a power outage.
 

No one was hurt but the incident caused tension inside the compound.
 

Ampatuan said this was the third time they were attacked like this and the family believes it was "politically motivated."
 

"Lately it was not only my mom who receives death threats but also me. The texts said they will get me inside our home or even in the Sangguniang Bayan hall," said the 24-year-old vice mayor.
 

She did not mention who she believes the culprits were but she said it is part of the political package—likely to be experienced if you are in politics in Maguindanao, she stressed.
 

Her mom, Bai Zahara Upam Ampatuan, was suspended after a local court issued a warrant of arrest linking her to the killing of a Sangguniang Bayan worker. The family vehemently denied the accusation, insisting it was part of a political ploy to oust her.
 

Bai Zahara Ampatuan said in a phone interview that only time will tell the truth.
 

She is saddened the township she is serving has been violent lately despite her efforts to restore peace and order.
 

Last Tuesday, another kin of the Ampatuans, former Datu Salibo Mayor Akmad Ampatuan, was ambushed at the boundary of Talayan and Guindulungan towns while on his way to Shariff Aguak.
 

He was wounded along with his two escort companions.
 

Maguindanao police has yet to issue a statement on the ambush.

It also has yet to comment if the Friday night attack on the mayor's compound is related to Akmad Ampatuan's ambush.
 

Akmad is the nephew of former Maguindanao kingpin Andal Ampatuan Sr. who is a principal suspect in the Maguindanao Massacre that killed 58 people in 2009. Zahara, on the other hand, is the daughter-in-law of Andal Sr. —KG, GMA News