The family of a barangay chairman who survived an ambush in Cotabato City believes they have received threats prior to the shooting.

Barangay Kalanganan 2 Chairman Edris Ayunan was not harmed when unidentified assailants staged an ambush evening on Friday, June 7, 2024.

Police said the barangay chairman was on board a van together with five others, including the driver, when the perpetrators riding another van fired shots at them on Mabini Street, Barangay Bagua 3.

The driver is reportedly in critical condition while another was also wounded.

“Actually, marami na kaming threat na na-receive before pa nangyari ‘yan. Sana matugunan at matulungan kami ng authorities at mabigyan ng hustisya ang aming pamilya sa nangyari,” Ayunan’s brother and chairman of Barangay Kalanganan, Bimbo Ayunan, said.

Authorities recovered the suspects’ alleged getaway vehicle abandoned at an area in Barangay Rosary Heights 3.

Investigators have yet to identify the perpetrators but they already have in their possession pieces of evidence such as a CCTV footage that could be useful in solving the crime.

“The CIDG is currently conducting a parallel investigation tungkol sa insidente. Whatever the result of the investigation, ipapasa namin sa Cotabato City Police Office since sila ang primary unit na nag-conduct ng investigation,” Criminal Investigation and Detection Group-Bangsamoro Autonomous Region (CIDG-BAR) Chief, Lt. Col. Ariel Huesca, said.