Convoy of Shariff Aguak mayor Akmad Ampatuan ambushed; 3 suspects killed

Three suspects were killed after armed men ambushed the convoy of Shariff Aguak, Maguindanao del Sur Mayor Akmad Ampatuan on Sunday morning, January 25. 

According to a report in Super Radyo dzBB, police said the mayor was on his way home at around 6 a.m. when the suspects in a minivan threw a rocket-propelled grenade (RPG) on the convoy at the corner of Maguindanao Street in Brgy. Mother Poblacion. 

In the report of GMA Regional TV's Rgil Relator in "24 Oras Weekend," CCTV footage showed two armed suspects emerged from a small van. One was armed with a rocket-propelled grenade RPG which he fired at the mayor's SUV.  CCTV footage showed the grenade hit the mayor's vehicle, resulting in a billow of smoke. Despite being damaged the SUV was able to drive away.

The SUV stopped in the middle of a road and several shots rang in the air.

The mayor’s back-up vehicle, led by PFC Manuel Arcega Dondiego, returned fire. The suspects were able to escape. 

Meanwhile, the mayor was unharmed although Dondiego and another person were wounded in the firefight. 

"There's a follow-up vehicle carrying the mayor's security personnel. His security personnel retaliated against the suspect. But two of his security personnel were wounded, suffering wounds on the left side of their abdomen," said Police Regional Office BARMM (PRO-BARMM) spokesperson P/Capt. Steffi Salanguit. 

Authorities are strying to determine the motive behind the attack. 

GMA Integrated News is trying to reach the mayor for comment. This is the third attempt on his life.

In another report by Luisito Santos in Super Radyo dzBB, three suspects were killed in a hot pursuit operation by the police and the military just hours after the ambush. 

The authorities located a minivan in Sitio 24 in Datu Unsay. The police believe that the suspects escaped from Shariff Aguak following the incident.

Law enforcement units are on high alert as a result of the incident.

The PRO-BARMM condemned the incident. —RF, GMA Integrated News