Lanao Sur mayoralty bet killed, 4 hurt in ambush

A reelectionist town mayor of Lanao del Sur province was killed while four of his companions were injured in an early morning ambush in Tugaya town Friday. Former Tugaya town Mayor Alimatar Guroalim was killed on the spot in the ambush, Autonomous Region in Muslim Mindanao (ARMM) police head Chief Superintendent Bienvenido Latag said. "Pupunta siya sa mosque upang magdasal sa Eid'l Fitr nila. Dead on the spot si Mayor Guroalim, ang driver at tatlong kasamahan sugatan (They were on their way to the mosque for Eid'l Fitr prayers. Guroalim was killed on the spot while his driver and three others were wounded)," Latag said in an interview on dzBB radio. Citing initial reports, Latag said the incident occurred at 7 a.m. in Dilimbayan village in Tugaya, when unidentified armed men fired on the victims who were in a maroon Pajero. A separate report on dzXL radio identified the wounded as the mayor's driver Khalid Taher, and companions Jalani Alcasim, Asrin Sampao and Alvin Mustafa. Latag said they were rushed to a hospital in Marawi City. Latag said police have formed a special investigation task group including members from the Criminal Investigation and Detection Group, Scene of the Crime Operations, and Intelligence units to get to the bottom of the incident. Police are looking into the possibility the incident was politically motivated, as Guroalim was seeking reelection. Latag said the special elections, where Guroalim intended to seek the mayoralty post, were scheduled in the town on November 6, due to the violence that marred the May 10 elections in the town. "Alam ninyo ang lugar na ARMM medyo mainit ang labanan dito ng kandidato (You know ARMM is a relatively hot spot during elections)," he said. — LBG/RSJ, GMANews.TV