MOMENT OF IMPACT: Reelectionist Vice Mayor Mohammad Omar Samama of Datu Piang, Maguindanao del Sur, is seen losing his balance moments after he was shot while speaking during a medical mission at an evacuation center in Barangay Magaslong at 10 a.m. on Monday, Feb. 24, 2025. 鈥擯hoto from Maguindanao del Sur Provincial Board Member King Mangudadatu
MANILA, Philippines 鈥� The Philippine National Police (PNP) said it was investigating whether an armed group was behind the attempted killing of a Maguindanao del Sur vice mayor.
Datu Piang Vice Mayor Mohammad Omar Samama was shot in the abdomen by a still unidentified gunman during a medical mission in that town last Monday.
鈥淪a ngayon, ang tinitignan nila (Police Regional Office Bangsamoro Autonomous Region in Muslim Mindanao or PRO BARMM) ay yung mga armed group (For now, PRO BARMM is looking at armed groups),鈥� PNP public information chief Col. Randulf Tua帽o said in a briefing on Wednesday.
鈥淚to ay naaayon kay RD (Regional Director) [Brig. Gen. Romeo] Macapaz na sabi niya ang suspek natin sa ngayon ay isang armed group (According to RD Brig. Gen. Romeo Macapaz, the suspect now is part of an armed group),鈥� Tua帽o added.
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Local police previously said it was looking into whether the attempt on Samama鈥檚 life was an election-related crime as it created a task group to expedite the investigation and determine the identity of the gunman.
Referring to the suspect in the shooting, Tua帽o explained, 鈥淚to ay nasa labas ng crowd area, meaning [since] covered yung area, posible na isang sniper ang bumaril,鈥� Tua帽o said.
(The shooting was outside the crowd area, meaning since the area was covered, it鈥檚 possible that it was a sniper who fired the shot.)
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鈥淎ng status ng ating vice mayor ng Datu Piang ay nasa mabuting kalagayan at kasalukuyang nagpapagaling sa ospital,鈥� the PNP information chief added.
(The status of the vice mayor of Datu Piang is that he鈥檚 in a good condition and is currently recovering at a hospital.)