MANILA — Authorities are investigating armed groups that may be behind the shooting of Vice Mayor Mohammad Omar Abpi Samama of Datu Piang, Maguindanao del Sur, an official said Wednesday.

Police Col. Randulf Tuaño, chief of the Philippine National Police (PNP) Public Information Office, said the police are still trying to identify Samama's assailant and have yet to conclude that the attack is related to the elections.

Pursuit operations are ongoing.

“[Ang suspek po] ay nasa labas ng crowd area…posible po na isang sniper ang bumaril. Since covered po ‘yong area, walang malinaw na clear shot po ‘yong suspek,” Tuano said. 

(The suspect was outside the crowd area… it’s possible that a sniper was responsible for the shooting. Since the area was covered, there is no clear shot for the suspect.)

“Ang suspek po natin ngayon ay isang armed group. Hindi po siya ma-declare na political sapagkat kung political po, ito po ay mangangailangan ng revalidation,” he added.

(The suspect is from an armed group. We cannot declare this as political yet because, if it were political, it would require revalidation.)

Samama, who is seeking re-election, was shot in the abdomen by an unidentified assailant on Monday morning while delivering a message at a public service event.

Tuaño said the official is now in stable condition and still recovering in the hospital.

Maguindanao del Sur vice mayor hurt in gun attack

COTABATO SHOOTING

Meanwhile, the police are also considering an armed group to be behind the separate ambush of engineer Israel Abas Angas in Cotabato City on Tuesday night.

“May ongoing operations against four suspects po — armed group din po,” Tuaño said.

(There are ongoing operations against four suspects — they are also an armed group.)

Reports indicate that Angas was driving his vehicle when the suspects, riding motorcycles, ambushed him in the Kanto Nayon Shariff area of Barangay Rosary Heights 3 in Cotabato City.

The victim was declared dead upon arrival at the hospital.

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